VOL. 1: Connor McDavid’s $25 Million Decision: Why Hockey’s Biggest Star Chose Loyalty Over Leverage

After months of speculation and rumors, Connor McDavid finally put an end to the whispers on October 6 by signing a two-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers coming in at $25 million. This wasn’t just another contract for one of hockey’s best players —  it was a choice that completely altered the direction of the league. Making the bold decision of loyalty, McDavid left money, and potentially history, on the table. 

Canadian Born and Raised

The 28-year old Canadian born superstar, coming off his tenth season in Edmonton with a total of 100 points, could have used his upcoming free agency to reshape the NHL’s financial and cultural landscape. 

McDavid was the first pick in the 2015 draft, where he signed for eight years at $100 million. McDavid’s resumé is already stacked, including five Art Ross trophies as the league’s top point producer, three Hart Memorial Trophies as league MVP, four Ted Lindsay Awards being elected by the NHLPA, and the Conn Smythe Trophy during Edmonton’s run in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Alongside this stack of accolades, he snatched the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy for being the league’s top goal scorer of 2023. With that long of a list, there’s very little for him still to achieve, except that ring. 

Through 712 regular season games, he’s tallied 361 goals and 721 assists for a total of 1,082 points, second in franchise history only behind Wayne Gretzky. The Oilers have now reached consecutive Stanley Cup Playoff Finals, building a championship-caliber roster around McDavid and fellow teammate Leon Draisaitl whose own eight-year$112 million contract makes him the highest paid Oiler. McDavid also served as an alternate captain of Team Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off in 2025 where he finished second with three goals and two assists, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against Team USA. 

Money Left on the Table

McDavid’s decision comes in a league where stars rarely move and salaries are modest in comparison to other major sports. Only 20 NHL players make more than $10 million annually right now, compared to 172 in the NBA. This is largely due to the $95.5 million salary cap that constrains team spending. Even with the maximum 20% salary limit permitted under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement - about $19.1 million per season - McDavid chose a deal that will soon pay him less than several of his peers. By the 2026-27 season, at least four players will be making more than him, including Kirill Kaprizov ($17 million), Draisaitl ($14 million), Auston Matthews ($13.25 million), and Nathan MacKinnon ($12.6 million). Kaprizov signed his record-setting eight-year contract less than a week before McDavid, making improvements in the league which were followed by McDavid’s own setbacks. 

“It’s not about the money for Connor.” said Oilers GM, Stan Bowman. 

The League’s Missed Moment

For the NHL, McDavid’s choice was a bittersweet decision. His commitment to the Oilers stabilized one of the NHL’s staple franchises, but it also silenced what could have been the most dramatic free-agent storylines in years. 

If McDavid had made the choice to be a free agent, 21 teams with at least $25 million in cap space would have been lined up for him, sparking weeks of rumor-driven coverage and renewed mainstream attention. His pursuit could have reenergized hockey’s offseason buzz and even boosted negotiations for the league’s next U.S. TV rights deal in 2028. Instead, the league remains defined by player loyalty and limited mobility. Of the 12 players named to the first and second NHL All-Star teams at the end of last season, 11 were still playing for the team that drafted them. Without the drama of star movement, the league loses out on the kind of fan intrigue that fuels the NBA and NFL year-round. 

The Price of Greatness

In a sport where the salary cap rises slowly (tentatively set to hit $104 million next year), McDavid would only account for 12% of that, leaving ample space for growth around him. That decision could help Edmonton chase the dynasty that’s eluded them since the Gretzky era. The only reason McDavid agreed to such a low contract is to ensure his front office had enough cap space available to put the right pieces around him. The Oilers also signed Jake Walman on October 6 to a seven year extension at $49 million. 

“I have every intention to win in Edmonton” - McDavid. 

However, McDavid’s selflessness doesn’t just limit his own earning power, but it also suppresses the market value for future stars. When the face of hockey takes less money, others are expected to follow. Either way, McDavid’s choice fits his image: a generational talent more interested in legacy than leverage. As he prepares to headline the NHL’s Olympic return in Italy next year, it’s clear that for McDavid, the only number that matters is the one on the Stanley Cup banner. 

What the Future Holds

Ultimately, by signing a two-year extension, McDavid is giving the franchise time to build a promising team around him while also giving himself an escape route at the end of this time period. On the same day that McDavid becomes a free agent in 2028, fellow star Auston Matthews from the Toronto Maple Leafs will also become a free agent. Both share the same agent, Judd Moldaver, causing some suspicion that McDavid happened to sign a contract that has him entering free agency at the same time as Matthews. 

“I think for him, it’s all about winning.” - Matthews on McDavid’s extension. 

Besides Edmonton and Toronto, Canada’s other NHL teams are adequate  but show little promise of signing either of the players in two years,leaving them to head towards the United States. High contenders for landing McDavid include Vegas, Colorado, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Carolina, and Tampa Bay which would completely shift the current landscape of the NHL. Their movement to the United States would make Canada’s quest for a Stanley Cup that much harder. 

By choosing loyalty over leverage, Connor McDavid once again proved that his game is about greatness, not greed. His commitment keeps the Oilers and their fans hopeful while also challenging the NHL to reconsider how it values its talent and markets its stars. McDavid’s legacy will not only be measured by goals or trophies, but by the example he’s set for what greatness looks like - on and off the ice.