Connor McDavid's new expected salary will have ripple affect on rest of roster
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The merry-go-round surrounding Connor McDavid's next contract with the Oilers refuses to stop, and will likely even speed-up, until pen is put to paper by both Connor McDavid and Oiler's management.
The latest report to circulate suggests that McDavid will not be taking a hometown discount, as other reports have claimed in recent weeks. Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal claims the Oilers' Captain will resign by training camp and the he will set the terms of the contract for management to sign, whatever the numbers.
The report seems more common sense than speculation, as it is clear that McDavid will get what he wants. He is, after all, the best player in the world, who rates in the 99th percentile in most micro-areas of the game, and 100% in all offensive categories, according to a report compiled by Don Luszczyszyn.
Connor is the bar that other players hope to reach. So yes, what Connor wants, Connor will get. The question is, how much and for how long?
According to Jim Matheson, it will be around $19M AAV, for 3-4 years - the maximum that McDavid can sign for is 20% of the $104M cap for 2025-26, or $20.4M. The actual amount that McDavid agrees upon is anywhere between the two.
However, if in fact McDavid does not take the hometown discount, as is being suggested, it would leave less room for the Oilers to sign another roster player. Whether this becomes an issue for Stan Bowman will depend on his specific roster need, like another goaltender, a right-handed defenseman, and scoring depth. Can he add them all?
Unfortunately, it's the opportunity cost of doing business in the NHL, where teams labor under a finite cap system. Inevitably, some other player pays the price.
If Connor McDavid does not sign before July 1, 2026, he will become the most coveted free agent in the history of the game, at least according to some, though I would tend to agree.
Except, there are several factors that will likely keep Connor in Edmonton, at least for the next 4 years; his wife Lauren has business interests in Edmonton. Also, the Oilers are close to winning a Stanley Cup, and staying put for the next few years is his best chance of winning. It will also be the expectation, when he does finally sign.
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