NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has some hope with his latest update that a deal can still be had before the season starts between the Oilers and Connor McDavid. Elliotte Friedman dropped a major update today that there might be a possibility that Connor McDavid will sign <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/edmonton-oilers/elliotte-friedman-believes-the-deal-connor-mcdavid-eventually-signs-will-take-fans-by-surprise' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>an extension with the Edmonton Oilers</a> prior to the start of the season. Re Connor McDavid extension: I still think there is some hope out there it'll happen before the season. - Elliotte Friedman <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/NHLRumourReport/status/1971308733642015097'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> McDavid is not alone, however, in being the center of attention. The status of Kirill Kaprizov with the Minnesota Wild is one of the NHL's largest stories in a very short time. <a href='https://athlonsports.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/elliotte-friedman-links-kirill-kaprizovs-payday-to-connor-mcdavids-next-deal' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Friedman dropped a second bombshell prediction</a> on Thursday's 32 Thoughts podcast: Kaprizov may sign an extension larger than McDavid's. If McDavid does come in at a lower number, and teams try to use that as a ceiling - you can bet that some players and agents are going to try that, Friedman said. Like, one of the things that some people predicted last summer, and which might actually turn out to be true, is that Kaprizov may end up getting paid more than McDavid on this next contract. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1971200122022396163'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> The 28-year-old winger will be starting the final year of his five-year, $45 million contract and has already proven to be one of the NHL's highest goal-scorers with three 40-goal seasons since coming over from Russia in 2020. In the last season with just 41 games, he registered 25 goals and 31 assists, and added nine points in six playoff games. Friedman's forecast is only days after he threw shade regarding Kaprizov's contract negotiations. <h3>Elliotte Friedman Believes Kirill Kaprizov Must Already Be Aware of Other Potential Offers</h3> On Tuesday's The FAN Hockey Show, he asked why Kaprizov would refuse an eight-year, $128 million proposal, assuming Kaprizov's camp already has an idea of unbelievable offers elsewhere. That came on the heels of Michael Russo of The Athletic, who suggested Kaprizov will earn $19-20 million per year on the open market. McDavid, however, still has a year left on his eight-year, $100 million contract. League sources believe he will take team cap space over a record deal, knowing the Oilers require space to sign other players still needing contracts. With two of the league's stars having decisions that will determine their futures, the next couple of months might reshape the power equation around the league.