After years of speculation, Connor McDavid agreed to re-sign with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, the day before the 2025-26 NHL season opens.
The terms might have been shocking for many: a two-year deal with a $12.5 million average annual value beginning in 2026-27 — $4.5 million less than the AAV Kirill Kaprizov recently re-signed for with the Minnesota Wild.
Advertisement
Were NHL insiders surprised? What was their reaction to the deal? Here are Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun’s first thoughts.
Johnston: If we learned anything about McDavid during the long, thoughtful process that culminated with Monday’s signing, it’s this: McDavid is truly a man of his word.
“I have every intention to win in Edmonton,” he said, again and again, even though the situation left the only NHL team he’s known a touch unsure of exactly where things were headed.
There can be no questioning that fact after McDavid started the 2025-26 season off in Oil Country with a major bang, agreeing to a contract that carries the same AAV as his previous deal, which was signed in July 2017.
Forget for a moment that we’re currently in a rising salary cap environment — one that’s bound t
Continue Reading on New York Times
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.