One day before the start of the 2025-26 season, a major piece of news hit the NHL.

News flash……Connor McDavid is an Edmonton Oiler. McDavid will be an Oiler this year, and now for two more seasons after that as well. Yesterday, the news broke that took the league by surprise as McDavid signed a contract extension with Edmonton. This was not the only surprise that took place.

The NHL‘s Big Fish Is Staying In His Pond

Yesterday was the deadline for any upcoming NHL free agent to sign an extension up to 8 years with his current team. When news of the McDavid signing broke, the assumption was that he was resigning for that eight-year term. But he did not, in fact, he only signed for two years! Ok, so his two-year deal would probably pay him the highest annual salary for an NHL player, right? Nope, in fact, it was far from that as well. McDavid signed a two-year extension with an AAV of only 12.5 million a year. I am writing this now, saying “only’ like I am a multi-millionaire, which I am not even close so who am I to argue this number?

So, why did McDavid only sign a two-year extension for $12.5 million a year? There are several factors involved in his decision, so let’s break it down. For one, it shows Edmonton and its fan base that McDavid truly wants to win a cup as an Oiler. Signing for just $12.5 million a year, it will give the Oilers flexibility to improve their team over the next 3 years.

I have commented over the years that until the Oilers get a legitimate Stanley Cup-winning goaltender between the pipes, they will not win a Cup. I am sorry, but Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard are not screaming Vezina trophy winners. They are average if not below average tenders, so if Oilers brass can find a more capable player in net, then maybe they will have a shot. If not, the Oilers will always be bridesmaids.

The Oilers are not a complete team, and still have other shoes to fill, but now McDavid is telling management I am giving you room to fill those holes. We shall see if Edmonton can make its way back to the finals for a third straight year this season in a loaded Western Conference.

How Is Connor McDavid NOT The Highest Paid Player?

Finally, fans always get upset with their star player when he leaves for free agency. Now McDavid will not look like the “bad guy’ with his fan base. He is almost telling them, “Hey, I have given this team 13 years of my career after this extension is over. I want to win here, but if not, I have to move on.” McDavid will never be the bad guy now in the hearts of Edmonton fans and the country of Canada.

While McDavid has now re-upped with the Oilers, what does this mean for the rest of the NHL? In my opinion, the league would have preferred that McDavid move on and bring his skills to a major USA market. Let’s face it, with Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin nearing the end of their NHL careers, the league will need a new face to market extensively downstate. It makes you wonder if NHL commissioner Gary Bettman may have tried whispering in McDavids’ ear, “Please leave the Great White North, and come south, young man!” Sadly for Bettman and fans of many other teams south of the Canadian border, that won’t be happening now for at least three more years.

I am torn about how I feel about this news. For one thing, I am happy for the fans of Edmonton, as well as for teams of a lot of the smaller market clubs. It seems when they have a star player headed for free agency, they are never able to resign that player, as they always move for the bigger bucks and brighter lights. However, on my other side of my brain, I was hoping Connor would have gone big market, like Chicago, Los Angeles, or my favorite team, the NY Rangers. Now I doubt that will ever happen.

When McDavid’s new contract expires, he will be 31 years old. That’s not really old in hockey sense, but I have learned from past experiences that when your favorite team signs an over-30-year-old veteran, it just never works out. Case in point with the Rangers, the list is endless in how many over-30 superstars they signed to try and win a cup, and almost all of them failed, except Mark Messier. Would I object to McDavid in a Rangers sweater in 3 years? If he is going to cost the sky and the moon at that time, the answer is NO!

End Of My Connor McDavid Rant

As we drop the puck on another season tonight, all the fans of Edmonton and many others in Canada can now rest easy. Connor McDavid will be an Oiler for the next 3 years. What happens in those next three years will dictate where Mr McDavid goes after that contract is up. Will McDavid have his Cup with Edmonton, or will his cup runneth over? I guess for now, I will put away my McDavid NY Rangers jersey.