Connor McDavid will use as much runway as he sees fit.
Fans of the Edmonton Oilers, and the rest of the hockey world, will simply have to wait.
Storylines and talking points abound as the NHL pivots to the 2025-26 season. The list includes the Florida Panthers' quest for a third straight Stanley Cup victory, the Oilers' push to get over their own title hump, Sidney Crosby's uncertain future with the rebuilding Pittsburgh Penguins, Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of 900 goals, and the league's Olympic return after a 12-year absence.
No thread, however, has the razor-sharp focus and attention like McDavid's future in Alberta.
Edmonton's superstar captain is entering the final season of an eight-year contract that has carried a US$12.5-million salary cap hit since 2017-18. McDavid said in June af