Arguably the biggest move of the off-season might be close for the Edmonton Oilers. According to a report from TSN’s Ryan Rishaug and followed up on by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Oilers and Connor McDavid are closing in on an eight-year contract extension worth $13.25 million per season.
The deal would make McDavid the third highest paid player in the league behind Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, who are both slated to make $13.8 million during the 2016-17 season. (I’m basing this off actual salary, not AAV).
Further to @TSNRyanRishaug McDavid mention, hearing deal will be around $13.25M for 8 yrs. Big win for EDM to get that term, as opposed to 5
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 28, 2017
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The deal will lock up McDavid in Edmonton for arguably the prime of his career, and will ensure that the first eleven years of his career will be with the Oilers if the club so pleases. It will also cement Edmonton as a near certain playoff team on a yearly basis thanks to McDavid’s presence in the lineup. For the next nine seasons, Edmonton is going to be a very appealing place to play.
A Win:
For the Oilers, getting McDavid signed for the next eight seasons is a massive victory. As I mentioned above, this ensures that McDavid spends his best seasons in Edmonton and cements the club as a legit destination for players and as a perennial contender. As both Pittsburgh and Chicago have demonstrated, having an elite star makes you a relevant and competitive team each and every season.
Many people will say that the money is too much, and I totally understand that. However, McDavid is at worst the second best player in the NHL and I believe he could have easily been offered the max salary of $15 million per season had he been on the open market for an offer-sheet.
$13.25 million per season will certainly be tough to work with, but McDavid is almost a certainty to produce like an elite talent, and those players do not come cheap after their entry-level contracts.
It’s expensive, and it will make building a winner harder, but it means Connor McDavid is going to spend his prime years in Edmonton. That, my friends, is a massive, massive victory for Peter Chiarelli and the Oilers.
Building a Winner:
One thing that fans and observers are bringing up today is the ability, or lack thereof, to build a winner in Edmonton with this deal. The Oilers have already moved Jordan Eberle out for Ryan Strome in an attempt to shed cap, and it’s likely that more moves will be coming in the future.
Does McDavid’s rumored cap hit of $13.25 million make it hard to build a winner? Damn right it does, but it does not make it impossible. With solid drafting and astute free agent additions, the Oilers very well could follow the Penguins path and build a winner with massive contracts on the books.
The days of multiple $6 million deals are coming to an end, and I suspect we will see McDavid and Leon Draisaitl set the tone financially with a number of lesser value deals surrounding them. Again, think the Pittsburgh model.
Edmonton’s ability to win a Stanley Cup very well might come down to how players like Jesse Puljujarvi, Tyler Benson, Kailer Yamamoto, Drake Caggiula and Joey Laleggia develop. If those guys can contribute in the NHL on value deals, then this team will have a chance to compete for the Cup year in and year out.
Winning a Stanley Cup post-McDavid entry-level deal is going to be tough, and in my mind it falls on the shoulders of Peter Chiarelli. He’s going to have to uncover more players like Patrick Maroon and take more chances on guys like Zack Kassian to have a chance. Say what you will about Chiarelli, but he’s done a very good job with moves like that during his time in Edmonton.
I do not believe for a second that this McDavid contract will sewer Edmonton’s hopes of ever winning a Stanley Cup.
Be happy, Oilers fans! Arguably the best player in the world is on the verge of agreeing to play his prime years for our beloved hockey club.
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