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Greg Vicehenky
Connor McDwid Answering the months of speculation by Signing a contract expansion with Adamonton oilors On Monday.
Note how we did not say that he “ended” speculation: McDavid’s contract, which bears an extremely team -friendly $ 12.5 million average annual value, is only for two years, meaning that the best hockey players in the world can still become the most reputed free agent in NHL history in summer.
But if you are olers, then you are taking a glass-haf-full approach. Or at this point more, a half-full (Stanley) Cup: Connor McDavid has at least three more opportunities to bring the first championship for Edmonton after 1990.
With any important decision in NHL, they are the winners and lose.
Here is the result of Connor McDaid’s new contract:
Winner: Connor McDwid
Since this is only two years of extension, McDavid will have questions about why they chose that word and what does it mean for their last future in Edmonton. But then after answering and answering those questions, McDwid will focus on winning a Stanley Cup in Edmonton and without the burden of speculation without a gold medal for Canada this season. With this season and then two more, those questions can wait at least till September 2027.
This deal was done before being dropped on the first cuis NHL seasonAnd one has to assume that Connor wanted it in this way.
With the status of McDavid’s contract, the entireness of the rumor mill will now focus on the future of Crossbi Pittsburgh Penguin,
It is a subject that the crossbie is already ill to discuss, but one that will increase in volume with the loss of each penguin – and pundits are predicting a lot of penguins damage in this season.
At least the pending unrestricted free agency of McDawid distanced some of that spotlight from SID. Now, he is a primary fuel source for this season’s rumor industry.
Winner: Fans of Edmonton
When the fans of the olers would say that McDawid was not going anywhere, it looked stronger to more aspirant.
Perhaps this season will be the last shot. Maybe he wanted to play for one of NHL’s glamor franchise, or he felt that there is a long controversy window compared to Edmonton.
The philosophy of the tear-eye news conferences of the past filled his memories, such as the other greatest player in the franchise history at that time ended. Great one in Los Angeles – Hek, Kings were also one of the teams that had a cap space ready for the conner in the next summer.
But he chose Edmonton. Not for a long period – at least not now – but he chose Edmonton. To continue living there. To continue playing there. Because he wanted to bring a championship there.
Lost: Everyone else
No McDwid rumors are found. No mcdavid -free agency mania. No McDavid in New York or Dallas or Los Angeles or Tampa Bay or (Gasap) Toronto arrived to raise those teams in the Stanley Cup preferred position immediately. Hearing the unconscious sounds of the “Imperial March”, as we saw McDavid to take the highest bidder from Edmonton to take his talents.
Yes, smart money was always on her to live in adamonton. This does not mean that the rest of us could not be a little surprised that they left all of that on the table – as well as over $ 100 million in free agent money.
Winner: Stan Boman
McDwid on Monday decided that he wanted to expand two years with oilers. It was after months of thinking about what – and if yes, how long – he wanted to be committed to Edmonton. A part of the process was sitting down with Bowman so that GM’s plans for the olers proceed. Finally, they found him to remain an oiller for a few more runs in the Stanley Cup.
Now, one can say that the pitch inspired McDavid to live with only two more seasons, which could not say much for its effectiveness. And one can say that McDavid had essentially dropped Boman out of his pocket to spend his pocket, the player should empower the player to say more in organizational decisions. But, C’Mon, any franchise player does not have that kind of bridge within the organization.
On an unrelated topic: Congratulations to Oilors coach Chris Noch, who coached McDawid in Juniors, His new contractHe was given by Jeff Jackson, who is the CEO of hockey operations and was an agent of McDaid.
Los: Olers runway
Now the hard part comes: McDwid and fellow Olers Star formed a team around Leon dress It can finally celebrate a Stanley Cup Championship; Or, when failed, a one who assures McDaid that the future in Edmonton is bright for him, who does not take his stuff and leaves in 2028.
There is a better chance to be in the east than later.
Defending Western Conference Champs bring back most of the rosters similar to the previous season, although the loss of Corey Perry can dompon his Stanley Cup final Karma. After that, Bowman has some good money from a growing hat in the next summer, including both the goalmaters.
McDwid is essentially Uncle Jimmy in season 4 of “The Beer”, until the restaurant is not a success or bust, then a reverse counting clock dropped. Boman will spend the next three years of content to find the correct recipe.
Winner: GM Empowerment
Each NHL general manager at some point, tried to sell a player with an expiry contract when taking a little less to help the team in the pay-captive league. Most of the times, he will refuse to fall prey to previous constructive mistakes by the player management – perhaps there is a small hometown discount, but wants to pay the stars in this way.
It used to be that Sydney Crossbie was a model for contractual sacrifice, as he has a $ 8.7 million AAV since the 2008–09 season. Subsequently, it was 15.3% of the cap. On their latest expansion, it is 9.1% of the cap. So far, McDavid will make 12.0% of CAP in 2026-27, although it can still be reduced.
It is compatible with the team at the point that it is not even the highest paying player on the oilers. Every GM in the league is going to harmonize when it is united: “Be like Connor.”
If oilers win during that two -year deal… Okay, now they also have proof of the concept.
Los: NHLPA
At any time a player decides to take less than the market value, it is not really a tide raising the boats of others.
While NHLPA had no doubt that it was thrilled Kiril Kapryijov Found Minnesota Wilde To improve what was already a record-breaking proposal higher price ($ 136 million) and AAV ($ 17 million in an eight -year term) in league history.
But Mind launched McDwid as the most prestigious free agent in hockey history that instead of maintaining his current hat for some season as the most prestigious free agent.
Winner: Leone Drassital
As I mentioned earlier this year, Draisaitl’s decision to sign an eight -year contract through 2033 did not mean that McDavid would work for a long time even for Oilers.
As it stands, Draisaitl would have fed McDavid catch for at least the next three sessions. It is only three times better for the 2025–26 season, which was definitely a possibility because McDavid received his future as a pending UFA.
This is not ideal, but it is not frightening. And hey, he is still the highest paid player on the olers! Who saw that it was coming?
Among all the potential landing spots for McDavid, no one would have removed the world of hockey from its axis as Ontario is carrying his talents. Toronto Maple LeafsThe 1-2 Panch of McDwid and Mathews may have assured fans of the most eccentric Leafs that the team could win their first Stanley Cup since 1967.
I wish after losing Mich Marnar To Golden Nights In Offsen, Matthews will have to wait by 2028 in summer, potentially to play with McDavid … when they are both UFAS … and incidentally share the same agent. Now this is a fun summer.
Winner: McDwid’s legacy in Edmonton
Assuming that he plays the entire tenure, McDwid would have given 13 years to Edmonton of his life – a group of draft lottery balls bounced the path of oilers in 2015 – in search of the Stanley Cup.
He has lifted the team in a total of two straight cup finals and three conferences in the finals, at this point where he was the only second skater in NHL history, who won the playoff MVP in an attempt to lose. Two additional sessions cannot sit well with some adamonton fans, especially after Draisaitl, there were eight more sessions in the last September.
But most of the fans are likely to see that McDavid opened the dispute window except McDavid leaving a screw agent McDak Money, and a screw to give caps flexibility to the oil. If he leaves in 2028, he will not leave Edmonton – it will happen after giving everything to that franchise. If it is finished without a cup, it will be the inheritance of oilers to eliminate it.
Lost: State Income Tax Debate
For those teams who play in states without income tax, they have been restored and has been hot since then. Tampa Bay Lightning, Fluorida panthers And Vegas Golden Nights Stanley started lifting the cup. Like players Brad Marchand Noted that state income tax scarcity has enabled teams to maintain roster stability and attract talent.
But it did not lure McDwid on this contract. Joe, Chikali tweeted as Roberto Loungo, executive of panthers, actually does not stop the fire of this burning issue:
No state tax collides again! https://t.co/ncrxssfboy
– Stromon (@Stromone 1) October 6, 2025
He can still play in Florida or Las Vegas or Dallas when this contract ends. But for now, he is committed to playing in Alberta, where the income tax rate is 15%.
We just have to wait for the panthers to win the third Strait Stanley Cup on the Oilors for the debate, which is to rule …
