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Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Oilers’ GM Stan Bowman Confident McDavid Extension Will Get Done

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Jesse Courville-Lynch | Last updated Mar 27, 2025 12:35 PM ET

The Edmonton Oilers are seemingly locked into a playoff spot this season, and it seems inevitable that they will see the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the postseason yet again as they try to push for their first Stanley Cup since 1990. They were active at the 2025 Trade Deadline, bringing in Trent Frederic and Max Jones from the Boston Bruins, as well as Jake Walman from the San Jose Sharks, as they looked to bolster their depth at different positions. With the team looking strong enough to make another deep playoff run after coming up just short last season, there is something else the team will have to focus on soon if they want to continue being contenders, but general manager Stan Bowman is confident it will get done at some point.

Bowman discussed the looming negotiations with superstar and captain Connor McDavid, who is eligible to sign an extension on July 1st, 2025, and stated he was confident a deal would get done at some point. McDavid, who is 28 years old, is currently recovering from an undisclosed injury and has missed the previous two games, and it’s believed he will miss the next few games as well. This season, he has scored 26 goals and added 64 assists for 90 points through 63 games, which comes out to a 1.43 points-per-game average.

This season, McDavid became a member of the 1000-point club and has since reached 1072 points through 708 career games. He is currently in the second last season of his massive eight-year extension that has a $12.5 million cap hit, and it’s no surprise he is expected to receive a pay raise on his next deal. Leon Draisaitl, who is also out dealing with an injury right now, has 101 points through 68 games this season, which comes out to a 1.55 points-per-game average. He also earned a new extension last offseason, extending for eight more years with a $14 million cap hit, so McDavid could be looking for more than that.

McDavid Will Be Highest-Paid Player in NHL

McDavid earned a massive extension before, but he will be in line to earn an even bigger one. It is a matter of when, not if, he becomes the highest-paid player in the NHL, earning the largest annual contract the league has ever seen. Draisaitl currently holds the highest annual salary in the NHL, and rightfully so, considering his ability to be an elite player at both ends of the ice, but his teammate will likely earn a little more.

It’s tough to guess what McDavid will be paid on his next deal, but it’s safe to say he deserves the first $20 million annual contract. I would assume he’s willing to take a pay cut to stay and contend in Edmonton and remain an Oiler for the rest of his career, so I would predict that he extends for eight more years with a $15.5 million cap hit.

Bowman’s confidence that a deal will get done should have Oilers fans excited. With those two in the lineup, the Oilers can remain contenders for the foreseeable future and can continue to spend in free agency in hopes of winning a Stanley Cup. For now, though, their focus should be on the upcoming postseason, which is right around the corner.

As the 2024-25 season moves along, be sure to continue following The Hockey Writers as your source for news from around the NHL and the hockey world.