Connor McDavid Keeps Promise to Edmonton to Continue Oilers Legacy

Connor McDavid’s contract rumors had reached a fever pitch in the days leading up to the decision in the preseason. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that McDavid wanted to provide “clarity” to the Oilers before the season began, either by signing or explaining why he wouldn’t. This created an anxious atmosphere, with Friedman noting that a short-term, team-friendly deal was likely if one were to be reached at all, speculating it would be “lower than many people expect, below $16 (million).”

Further fueling the 50-50 odds was the record-setting eight-year, $136-million contract extension signed by Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild), which reset the market and highlighted the massive salary McDavid could have commanded.

Against this backdrop of speculation, McDavid’s decision to stay provides stability and affirms his loyalty to the franchise. Somewhat similar to the preseason predictions, the new contract is a two-year agreement carrying an annual average value (AAV) of $12.5 million. Immediately, Connor McDavid took to social media to announce the news to fans, sharing an Instagram post that read, “Our journey here continues