Connor McDavid signs a two-year,
$25 million contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers
[October 07, 2025]
By STEPHEN WHYNO
Connor McDavid did not want a raise. He wants to win the Stanley
Cup.
McDavid signed his long-awaited contract extension with the Edmonton
Oilers on Monday, taking far less money than projected for the best
hockey player in the world in the aim of pursuing his first
championship.
The three-time MVP and the only NHL organization he has played with
finalized a two-year, $25 million contract on the eve of the start
of the season. McDavid will count $12.5 million against the cap from
2026-28, the same average salary he has had since 2019.
McDavid will not even be the highest-paid player on his own team,
settling for more than $1 million a year less than longtime running
mate Leon Draisaitl.
“Connor’s commitment to our team and our city is surpassed only by
his singular focus on bringing a Stanley Cup back to fans of the
Edmonton Oilers,” general manager Stan Bowman said.
McDavid's deal does not come close to approaching the richest
contract in league history agreed to last week when Minnesota signed
Kirill Kaprizov for $136 million over eight years. Kaprizov's annual
salary will be $17 million when his record-setting contract kicks
in.
Instead, McDavid took a much shorter-term deal, which keeps the heat
on ownership and the front office led by former agent Jeff Jackson
and Bowman to put together a roster that can win it all. Edmonton
has reached the final each of the past two years before losing to
Florida.
“He’s a guy of integrity and a team guy to do this, in recognizing
that this is his best chance and the best place to win right now,”
retired goaltender-turned-TNT analyst Brian Boucher said. “It puts
an awful lot of pressure on Stan Bowman, on the players in that
locker room. The time is ticking, and I think the expected outcome
is that there’s at least one championship in the next three years —
if not three. I think that’s what they’re looking at.”
[to top of second column] |
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid celebrates after scoring
against the Dallas Stars during the second period of Game 5 of the
Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs,
May 29, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson, file)
McDavid on social media posted the message, “Our
journey here continues” with orange and blue hearts and photos from
his first decade in Edmonton.
Now 28 and set to be 31 when this contract expires, McDavid has
scored more than anyone else in the league since being drafted with
the first pick in 2015 and debuting a few months later. His 1,082
points in 712 regular-season games are 125 more than the
next-closest player, Draisaitl.
This contract pays McDavid much less than Draisaitl, who just over a
year ago signed for $112 million over eight seasons. When McDavid
signed his current contract in 2017, he accounted for 15.3% of the
cap, and he'll be at just 11% in 2027-28 as revenues and the upper
limit are skyrocketing.
“McDavid could’ve named his price,” retired NHL player Scottie
Upshall posted on X. “Instead, he chose legacy over anything. Taking
less to keep this Oilers core intact tells you all you need to know
— he wants a Stanley Cup in Edmonton more than any personal award.
Only the greats would do this, and that (is) why he is 1 of them.”
Not going for a raise is reminiscent of what Sidney Crosby,
McDavid's idol, has done on every contract since his entry-level
deal. Crosby has maintained an average salary of $8.7 million — a
nod to his jersey No. 87 — since 2008, the season he won the Stanley
Cup for the first of three times in his career.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
