The Edmonton Oilers got some good news on Wednesday as it pertains to Connor McDavid’s impending new contract.
McDavid, the best player on the planet, is entering the final year of his current deal. When he signs a new contract, with the Oilers or elsewhere, it’ll almost certainly pay him more per year than any deal in NHL history.
And right now, McDavid wants that to happen in Edmonton.
“I have every intention to win in Edmonton,” McDavid told reporters on Wednesday.
McDavid and the Oilers are coming off two consecutive losses in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Florida Panthers. There’s at least some feeling that Edmonton will have to continue to prove to McDavid that they can truly win the Stanley Cup together.
The Oilers are expected to have $45 million in open contract space next offseason, so there won’t be much excuse for not giving McDavid something between $16-20 million per year.
It’ll be a high-octane negotiation season with Jack Eichel and Kirill Kaprizov also lined up for free agency from the Golden Knights and Wild, respectively.
McDavid will top the market. He will turn 29 years old in January.
He’s coming off an 100-point season in which he had 26 goals and 74 assists in just 67 games. In his career, he has played 712 games and put up 1,082 points, broken down between 36 goals and 721 assists.
McDavid has led the NHL in points in five separate seasons and in assists in four separate campaigns.
The Oilers would obviously love to keep him, no matter the cost. It’ll all come down to where McDavid wants to be.
MORE: Connor McDavid has $45 million reason to look forward to contract negotiations
