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59m ago

Connor McDavid Signs Two-Year, $25 Million Extension With Oilers, Reframing Edmonton’s Cap Window

McDavid set the $12.5 million figure himself to prioritize near-term roster flexibility through 2027-28.

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Overview

  • General manager Stan Bowman called the talks “unique” and confirmed the $12.5 million average annual value was McDavid’s choice rather than a team-driven number.
  • Reporting indicates McDavid’s camp believed roughly $15 million was the upper limit that would still allow Edmonton to contend and then proposed an even lower AAV after months of discussions.
  • The extension keeps McDavid under contract through 2027-28, delays potential unrestricted free agency to 2028, and benefits from a rising cap projected to reach $104 million in 2026-27.
  • League context underscores the discount: Leon Draisaitl carries the NHL’s top 2025-26 cap hit at $14 million, Kirill Kaprizov’s record $17 million cap hit begins in 2026-27, and Forbes lists Auston Matthews as the top total earner this season.
  • With added flexibility, Edmonton moved quickly by extending defenseman Jake Walman for seven years at a $7 million AAV, as analysts frame the next few seasons as a defined championship window.