NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Edmonton Oilers would be prepared to pay Connor McDavid up to $50 million per year if unrestricted by the league’s salary cap rules. This figure, representing McDavid’s average annual value (AAV), is more than double the maximum currently allowed under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), according to Friedman’s analysis shared on Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts podcast.
McDavid, 28, is entering the final year of his eight-year, $100 million contract and will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2026, although he is eligible to negotiate a contract extension before then.
If the Oilers could pay McDavid $50 million, he would deserve $50 million,
Friedman said.
And look, I don’t think anyone’s going to have an issue.
—Elliotte Friedman, NHL Insider
Salary Cap Restrictions Capping Connor McDavid’s Earnings Below Market Value
McDavid’s forthcoming contract is anticipated to be one of the largest in NHL history, poised to surpass any current deals. Friedman identified McDavid and Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov as the two players likely to reset the market with their upcoming contracts, regardless of which team they sign with.
However, under the NHL’s current CBA rules, player salaries can only reach up to 20% of the league’s salary cap, meaning McDavid’s maximum theoretical AAV in the next offseason is about $19.1 million. Despite this cap, his true value to the Oilers and the league is significantly higher.
At present, McDavid earns $12.5 million per year, which amounts to just 3.2% of the Oilers’ projected $388 million revenue in the 2023–24 season, as reported by Edmonton Journal’s David Staples.
Staples compared McDavid’s share of revenue to star athletes in other major sports leagues, highlighting stark differences:
- Juan Soto (MLB) earns 24.6% of the New York Mets’ revenue.
- Dak Prescott (NFL) earns 10.58% of the Dallas Cowboys’ revenue.
- Steph Curry (NBA) earns 7% of the Golden State Warriors’ revenue.
If McDavid’s salary matched the average revenue percentage of these top earners, which is 14.04%, his pay would be roughly $47.5 million per year, supporting Friedman’s $50 million valuation.
Projected Timeline for McDavid’s Contract Extension
Insider Bob Stauffer indicated that the Oilers may finalize contract extensions with McDavid and other players by late August of 2025. This group includes Mattias Ekholm, Jake Walman, and Vasily Podkolzin.
I’d say by Aug. 28, which is a Thursday, a month from today, I could foresee a scenario where extensions are done on Podkolzin, Walman, Ekholm and McDavid,
Stauffer said.
McDavid is 100% going to re-sign.
—Bob Stauffer, Oilers Insider
McDavid Takes a Measured Approach to His Future Amid Playoff Disappointments
Despite leading the Oilers to consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances, both times ending with losses to the Florida Panthers, McDavid has not expressed urgency about signing a new contract. Following the most recent defeat, he emphasized a cautious approach to his decision-making process.
I’m not in a rush to make any decision, so I don’t think there needs to be any timeline,
McDavid stated.
In the previous season, McDavid scored 100 points over just 67 regular-season games and currently holds 1,082 points in 712 career games, underscoring his elite production level as the Oilers’ franchise cornerstone.
Significance of McDavid’s Valuation in NHL Contract Landscape
Connor McDavid’s potential $50 million AAV contract would shatter existing NHL records and place his earnings closer to the valuations of superstars in other major sports, illustrating the salary cap’s limitations in reflecting true player value. The Oilers’ readiness to offer such a lucrative deal highlights McDavid’s immense importance to the franchise and the sport overall.
How this contract will influence future negotiations for elite players like Kirill Kaprizov remains a key point of interest, as the NHL’s salary cap system continues to play a decisive role in shaping player compensation.