NHL insider sees Connor McDavid’s extension with Oilers coming in ‘lower than a lot of people’ expect

Connor McDavid leaving money on the table in contract negotiations isn’t anything new for the superstar, and according to NHL insider John Shannon, that could be the case once again.

Shannon made the comments on Friday’s edition of Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer, saying it would likely come on a shorter-term deal.

“I think it’s going to be a three or four-year deal,” said Shannon. “Connor’s entitled to 20 percent (of the salary cap)… But I also think Connor’s smart enough to know if he gets too much, that’s less to acquire free agents and other players for this hockey club. And that’s what superstars do that want to win Stanley Cups — they sacrifice.

“I think Connor’s going to come in lower than a lot of people [are expecting], short-term… and it will give Stan Bowman to go out and spend some money on other players at the appropriate time.”

When McDavid signed his eight-year extension in July 2017, the Edmonton Oilers captain went back to the team to take an additional $500,000 off his deal, taking it from $13-million to $12.5-million — a dollar amount that still made him the highest paid player in the NHL by $1.5-million.

McDavid is expected to sign another big-ticket deal this summer, now entering the final year of that aforementioned deal, set to become the highest-paid player once again.

The highest-paid player set for this upcoming season is McDavid’s right-hand man, Leon Draisaitl, who will make $14-million with his contract extension kicking in. If McDavid were to become the highest-paid player by the same $1.5-million margin as previous, that would put him at $15.5-million on an annual basis — a dollar amount well below the 20 percent maximum, which would be just over $19-million.

The Oilers and McDavid’s camp, led by agent Judd Moldaver, hadn’t exchanged contract numbers as recently as earlier this week, according to a report from Frank Seravalli. Despite that, he said the two sides are expected to begin doing so “in relatively short order.”

And on Thursday, Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco, he thinks the deal will be signed before the regular season.