Connor McDavid’s contract extension is already shaping up to be the biggest storyline heading into the NHL season.
While the Edmonton Oilers remain focused on winning another Stanley Cup, every conversation around the franchise eventually circles back to one question:
How much is Connor McDavid actually worth?
The answer? Probably more than any player has ever been paid.
The bigger question is whether he’ll actually ask for it.
The $25 Million Conversation
Recently, NHL analyst Russ Cohen suggested that McDavid could command five years at $25 million per season, a deal that would shatter every salary record in league history.
At first glance, it sounds outrageous.
Then you remember who we’re talking about.
McDavid isn’t just the best player in hockey—he’s arguably the most valuable player any franchise has ever had.
If every NHL team were allowed to bid on Connor McDavid tomorrow, it’s difficult to imagine the offers stopping anywhere below $20 million annually. In an open market, $25 million isn’t nearly as crazy as it sounds.
Could He Actually Get $25 Million?
From a pure value standpoint…
Absolutely.
Consider what McDavid brings:
- Consistent 100+ point production.
- Art Ross Trophy contender every season.
- Hart Trophy candidate almost every year.
- The face of the NHL.
- Massive revenue generator through ticket sales, merchandise and television.
- A player who instantly turns a playoff team into a Stanley Cup contender.
There isn’t another player who impacts winning the way McDavid does.
If contracts were based strictly on value to a franchise, $25 million could even be viewed as a bargain.
But That’s Probably Not What Happens
History tells us McDavid has never been focused on squeezing every possible dollar out of the Oilers.
His current deal already came in below what many believed he could have demanded at the time.
Winning has always appeared to be his priority.
Every extra dollar he takes is one less dollar Edmonton has available to build a championship roster around him.
That’s why many around the league believe he’ll once again leave money on the table.
So…What Does He Actually Sign?
Here are a few realistic possibilities.
Option 1: Five Years × $20 Million AAV
This feels like the “middle ground.”
McDavid becomes the highest-paid player in NHL history by a significant margin while still giving Edmonton some flexibility.
Many executives believe this is the most logical number.
Option 2: Four or Five Years × $18–19 Million
This may be the most “McDavid” contract.
He still resets the market.
He protects his ability to sign another major contract while the salary cap continues to rise.
And he keeps the Oilers competitive.
Option 3: The $25 Million Shocker
Could it happen?
Sure.
Especially if negotiations become difficult or McDavid wants a shorter-term contract that maximizes every UFA year.
It would completely reshape NHL salaries overnight.
Every superstar contract after that would be measured against Connor McDavid.
Why Five Years Makes Sense
One interesting part of Russ Cohen’s prediction isn’t just the salary.
It’s the five-year term.
Rather than locking himself into an eight-year deal, five years would allow McDavid to:
- Cash in again while still in his early 30s.
- Benefit from a rapidly increasing salary cap.
- Maintain flexibility if circumstances in Edmonton ever change.
With the NHL salary cap projected to continue climbing over the coming seasons, waiting for one more massive payday could ultimately earn him tens of millions more over his career.
The Bedard and Carlsson Effect
Recent contracts around the league have already pushed superstar salaries into new territory.
Connor Bedard’s new $15 million AAV extension and Leo Carlsson’s reported $18 million AAV contract have shifted expectations for elite young stars.
If those are the numbers for players still building their resumes…
What should the best player in the world be worth?
That’s exactly why figures like $20 million—or even $25 million—are now being discussed seriously.
Final Thoughts
Connor McDavid has earned the right to ask for whatever number he wants.
If he demanded $25 million per year, there would likely be teams lining up to pay it.
The question isn’t what he’s worth.
The question is how much he’s willing to sacrifice for another chance to lift the Stanley Cup.
My expectation?
McDavid signs somewhere between $18.5 million and $20.5 million AAV on a five-year contract. It resets the market, rewards the NHL’s best player, and still gives Edmonton a realistic opportunity to keep a championship-caliber roster around him.
If he shocks everyone and signs for less than that, it won’t be because he couldn’t get more.
It’ll be because winning has always mattered just as much as the paycheck.
