"Maybe $16M?": NHL insider weighs in on Connor McDavid's next contract post Leon Draisaitl's record $112M extension

By Zachary Roberts

Modified Sep 10, 2024 16:53 GMT

Connor McDavid has two years left on his contract, which makes it very possible that he will sign an extension next offseason. If he does, it could be incredibly lucrative. Since Leon Draisaitl, McDavid's teammate, just signed the most expensive contract in hockey history, it's fair to wonder what McDavid, a more renowned player, will get.

One NHL insider speculated that the star forward would break the record Draisaitl just set. He pondered what it could mean for McDavid's eventual price tag since Draisaitl made $14 million AAV and $112 million overall.

Frankie Corrado said, via TSN:

"Does the number start at $15, maybe even $16? Well, it's higher than Leon Draisaitl, let's call it for what it is. If Leon Draisaitl wanted a two-year deal, he wanted an eight-year deal, if he wanted $14 million, $15 million like he got to dictate the terms on this deal. Connor McDavid gets to do that as well."

Corrado added that the Edmonton Oilers could be looking at a deal that accounts for an astonishing 17% of their cap.

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NHL insider pumps brakes on $20 million tag for Connor McDavid

While the price tag for McDavid — thanks to other deals and his continued excellent performance year in and year out — continues to rise, there is a ceiling. McDavid may be the most valuable hockey player in a long time, but that value has a cap.

Edmonton will have to spend a lot for Connor McDavid (Imagn)

Frankie Corrado added:

"He's not going to go to 20, like he's not going to handcuff. You're projecting if it goes up to $92 million next year. We're projecting that the cap is going to keep going up.

"We're not going to live in this flat cap world. And if it does, we're thinking, you know, 17% of the cap is higher than what Leon Draisaitl signed for, and still gives Connor McDavid plenty more money than Leon Draisaitl."

These are the questions that now face McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers moving forward. Leon Draisaitl's new extension has certainly made things interesting.