Sacrificing money to extend a Stanley Cup contention window is not something most players would consider. But then again, Connor McDavid is not most players.
In a move that was downright Sidney Crosbian, McDavid stunned the NHL world by signing a two-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers in a deal that pays him a mere $12.5 million a year. As a result, his teammate, Leon Draisaitl, will still be the team’s highest earner, and GM Stan Bowman will now have more cap space to play with in 2026-27 and 2027-28.
McDavid’s contract sent a crystal clear message that he and the Oilers mean business, but several insiders were also concerned about the effect it would have on other NHL stars in their pursuit of a contract extension.
However, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had just one thing to say about McDavid giving the Oilers breathing room when it comes to cap maneuverability.
What Does The NHL Commissioner Think About Connor McDavid’s Contract?
News of McDavid’s contract extension sent shockwaves across the NHL, but Commissioner Gary Bettman chose to go the other route, patting the Oilers captain on his back for the sacrifice.
“It’s a lot of money by any standard, and I think it’s a testament to Connor’s passion for the game and his commitment to Edmonton,” Bettman told The Athletic. “If I were an Oilers fan, I’d be excited, and if I were his teammate, I’d be thrilled to know the team is going to have some more flexibility in terms of creating a team that’s been even more, if it’s possible, successful.”
Bettman also stressed the fact that the Oilers have made the trip to the Stanley Cup Final twice in the last two years, adding that McDavid’s deal speaks volumes about his character.
Connor McDavid Wasting No Time In Racing Out Of The Blocks
The Oilers didn’t get off to the best start in their season opener against the Calgary Flames.
While the offense looked cohesive, threatening, and clinical, it was clear there’s room for a lot of improvement on defense. The Oilers built up a healthy 3-0 lead before letting the Flames back into the game late on. When all was said and done, an eight-round shootout (the longest in NHL history for a season-opener) saw the Oilers drop their first game of the season for the third year in a row.
However, McDavid didn’t miss a single beat that game. Per NHL Edge stats, the Oilers captain hit a top speed of 24.61 mph, his highest mark since tracking began in 2021/22. What’s more, McDavid had 14 bursts over 20 mph in the season opener. He averaged that feat 6.6 times per game last season.
The good news is that the Oilers have the opportunity to right the wrongs from the loss against the Flames when they welcome the Vancouver Canucks to Rogers Place on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 10 pm EDT.
However, new signing Jack Roslovic will play no part, with head coach Kris Knoblauch looking to get the former Carolina Hurricanes forward a little more acclimatized with the Oilers’ way of doing things before they throw him in the lineup with McDavid and Draisaitl.