MONTREAL, QC - MAY 12: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid 97 waits for a face-off during the Edmonton Oilers versus the Montreal Canadiens game on May 12, 2021, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA MAY 12 Oilers at Canadiens Icon210512076
MONTREAL, QC - MAY 12: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid 97 waits for a face-off during the Edmonton Oilers versus the Montreal Canadiens game on May 12, 2021, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA MAY 12 Oilers at Canadiens Icon210512076
Connor McDavid's next contract is already the talk of the NHL. Since he isn't a free agent for two more years, the Oilers captain signed a short extension last October, which runs till the 2027-28 season.
On the Spittin' Chiclets podcast this week, co-host Ryan Whitney argued that McDavid is being paid well below market value. He started comparing McDavid’s numbers to those of other players who signed big deals recently.
The other co-host, Paul Bissonnette, pushed for an eight-year, $200 million contract, paid mostly as signing bonuses. That a contract like that would be the richest deal in the league, which is suitable enough for McDavid.
McDavid's current deal is a two-year, $25 million extension worth $12.5 million a year. It is the same cap hit as his previous contract. The short-term extension sets him up to reach unrestricted free agency in 2028.
"McDavid realistically should be getting $23 million a year," Whitney said on the podcast. He explained how veterans like Mikko Rantanen and Mitch Marner now look underpaid, too, when put against the new market standards.
MONTREAL, QC - MAY 12: Look on Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid 97 during the Edmonton Oilers versus the Montreal Canadiens game on May 12, 2021, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA MAY 12 Oilers at Canadiens Icon210512085
MONTREAL, QC - MAY 12: Look on Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid 97 during the Edmonton Oilers versus the Montreal Canadiens game on May 12, 2021, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA MAY 12 Oilers at Canadiens Icon210512085
Last season, McDavid led the entire NHL with 48 goals, 90 assists, and 138 points in 82 games. These results are the reason why analysts think his next deal should look very different.
Kirill Kaprizov earns $17 million a year, and Leo Carlsson just signed for $18 million, which is the highest cap hit in the league. Meanwhile, McDavid is still at $12.5 million.
McDavid did not request a trade or a new deal, and Edmonton still has two seasons with him. And if McDavid ever signs a new contract, it will depend on where the salary cap lands by 2028.
Carlsson's Deal Raises the Bar
All these speculations and theories trace back to Leo Carlsson. On July 3, the Philadelphia Flyers gave the Anaheim Ducks forward a five-year, $90 million offer sheet worth $18 million annually.
Anaheim matched the offer on July 9 to keep him. As a result, Carlsson became the highest-paid player in the NHL by cap hit.
According to an article from Yahoo Sports, Carlsson will earn only the league minimum in base salary each year. The rest of the $83.5 million will come through signing bonuses.
That format quickly grew as the blueprint for other players and the reason why McDavid's hypothetical deal was discussed in such detail.
Beyond this, Carlsson's deal reset expectations across the league. Other restricted free agents like Connor Bedard and Jason Robertson now hold on to that deal as a benchmark for their own contract talks.
Read more at NHL Fan Central!
Written by
Aadhya Nalla
Edited by
Ashvinkumar Patil