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Greg Wyshynski
Edmonton Oilers fans rejoice! Their iconic captain, Connor McDavid, has committed his immediate future to the team, agreeing to a contract extension spanning two years with a value of $12.5 million annually, the organization publicly stated on Monday.
According to a source with inside knowledge, McDavid finalized his choice this past Monday morning. Contract discussions proceeded smoothly and quickly, resolving in a matter of hours.
Having dedicated his entire professional career — 11 seasons — to the Oilers since being drafted in 2015, McDavid was slated to potentially explore unrestricted free agency after the current season concludes. This followed his previous commitment in July 2017 when he signed an eight-year, $100 million contract. The possibility of the world’s best player entering free agency generated widespread conjecture, yet a continuation in Edmonton was frequently seen as the most probable outcome.
At 28 years of age, McDavid’s skill set is unparalleled in the hockey world. Throughout his 712-game career, he’s amassed 1,082 points, including 361 goals. His list of achievements includes five Art Ross Trophies for leading the league in points and three Hart Memorial Trophies for being the most valuable player during the regular season. Impressively, in 2024, he distinguished himself as only the second player ever to receive the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs despite his team’s loss.
Under McDavid’s leadership, the Oilers have progressed to the Stanley Cup Final in each of the last two seasons. However, they faced defeat at the hands of the Florida Panthers on both occasions.
Sources have disclosed that McDavid thoughtfully considered his contract decision, dedicating time to assess the Oilers’ chances for contention. Teammate Leon Draisaitl, now 29 years old, solidified his long-term commitment by signing an eight-year extension with an annual average value of $14 million in September 2024. Other significant players, including forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman, in addition to defensemen Mattias Ekholm and Darnell Nurse, are all above the age of 30. Concerns persisted regarding the team’s goaltending situation, which was largely viewed as their primary weakness in those two Stanley Cup Final series.
A prevalent expectation was that McDavid might sign a short-term agreement with the Oilers. This would not only sustain their immediate competitive status for the ensuing two seasons but also position him to become the most highly sought-after free agent in the history of the NHL in the summer of 2028. Discussions involved a three-year duration for McDavid during negotiations with the Oilers before the ultimate consensus of a two-year term was reached.
It was also generally believed that McDavid would agree to a contract that was beneficial to the team’s overall financial position — significantly less than Kirill Kaprizov’s recent landmark deal with the Minnesota Wild. Kaprizov’s agreement set new NHL benchmarks for overall value ($136 million) and annual average value ($17 million) over its eight-year span.
