Connor McDavid has expanded the championship opportunity for the Edmonton Oilers. The team disclosed on Monday that they have secured a two-year, $25 million US contract extension with their star captain. Although this extension doesn’t lock in No. 97 with the team for the long haul, it does alleviate the team’s major concerns as they strive to win the Stanley Cup after being runners-up to the Florida Panthers for two consecutive years.
McDavid, who was poised to become an unrestricted free agent after the current season, was the top priority for the team to re-sign. Stan Bowman, the executive vice president of hockey operations and general manager for the Oilers, expressed in a news release, “Connor’s dedication to our team and city is only surpassed by his unwavering focus on delivering a Stanley Cup to the Edmonton Oilers fans.”
McDavid confirmed the contract extension on the social media platform X before the official announcement by the Oilers. He shared a post saying, “Our journey continues here,” accompanied by a photo of him with his teammates on the ice at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Despite lucrative contracts being signed this preseason, such as Kirill Kaprizov’s record-setting eight-year, $136 million extension with the Minnesota Wild, McDavid opted for an extension with an average annual value of $12.5 million, matching his current eight-year deal.
With McDavid’s contract extension, the Oilers are positioned as Stanley Cup contenders for the next couple of years. However, the long-term future of the superstar center in Edmonton remains uncertain. Regarded as the top player in the league, McDavid recently completed his fifth consecutive 100-point season despite playing only 67 games due to injuries.
Leon Draisaitl, a fellow star center, also signed an eight-year, $112 million extension with the Oilers in September 2024, binding him to the franchise until 2032-33 with an average annual value of $14 million.
McDavid, a five-time Art Ross Trophy recipient as the NHL’s top scorer, won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy in 2022-23 for leading the league in goals and became the sixth player on a Cup-losing team to secure the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP in 2024.
The 28-year-old McDavid has accumulated 150 points (44 goals, 106 assists) in 96 playoff games and has been a four-time recipient of the Ted Lindsay Award as the league MVP voted on by NHL Players’ Association members.
Having helped Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament and set to headline the NHL’s return to the Olympics in Italy, McDavid revitalized the Oilers upon his arrival in Edmonton. An exceptional talent with remarkable speed, skill, and vision, McDavid ended the team’s decade-long playoff drought in 2017.
After two seasons without postseason appearances, the Oilers made it to the Western Conference final in 2022, where McDavid amassed an impressive 33 points in 16 games. However, they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche, the eventual Cup champions. Despite subsequent playoff successes, including two conference final wins, the Oilers fell short against the Florida Panthers in the championship series.
Reflecting on his future after the defeat to Florida, McDavid emphasized the importance of family and personal well-being alongside his commitment to the Oilers.