Oilers GM reveals his reaction the moment McDavid revealed his discount
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On the set of a Hockey Night In Canada broadcast, while being interviewed by Louie DeBrusk and Scott Oake, Stan Bowman gave his honest reaction about the moment he learned of McDavid's historical $12.5M annual salary.
I was smiling when he said that, I just wanted to get to the end, to the finish line. I wasn't about to argue with him when he said that number. That wasn't what we were expecting, obviously, everyone thought it was going to be a lot more. But it goes to show what Connor's all about.
I don't think anyone's surprised in hindsight, but we weren't expecting that.
- Stan Bowman
I don't think anyone's surprised in hindsight, but we weren't expecting that.
- Stan Bowman
Connor McDavid surprises hockey fans across the continent with selfless act
I would certainly argue that many were indeed surprised to hear of the low-AAV, given McDavid had earned the right to demand a much higher annual salary, and because of his high value to the Oilers.
However, it was a refreshing revelation to know that some players are in the sport for the passion of it; for the pure joy of playing and striving to win a Stanley Cup. Of course, the money isn't bad either.
In fact, even NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman referred to McDavid's decision as a testament to his passion for the game and commitment to Edmonton, highlighting his focus on winning the Stanley Cup.
General Manager Stan Bowman acknowledged that the AAV McDavid accepted provides the team with opportunities that the Oilers otherwise wouldn't have had, suggesting increased flexibility for roster moves.
TSN analysts agreed that McDavid's commitment solidifies the core and offers a chance to make a deeper push in the playoffs. Since securing McDavid, Stan Bowman also signed Jake Walman, Mattias Ekholm and Jack Roslovic.
Of course, not all were happy with McDavid. Some agents were reportedly incensed by the lower benchmark it set for future contracts. The move has intensified the debate on team-friendly deals versus maximizing earnings within the league's rising salary cap environment.
