NHL commissioner Gary Bettman praised Connor McDavid on Wednesday for signing a team-friendly contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers, calling the two-year, $25 million deal a testament to the superstar\'s commitment to winning a championship in Edmonton.
McDavid\'s extension keeps his annual salary at $12.5 million starting in 2026-27. At least five NHL players will earn more than the league\'s five-time scoring champion under their new contracts.
Bettman spoke before the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Montreal Canadiens in their season opener. He emphasized McDavid\'s decision to forgo a significant raise benefits the Oilers\' roster flexibility.
\"First of all, it\'s a lot of money by any standard, and I think it\'s a testament to Connor\'s passion for the game and his commitment to Edmonton,\" Bettman said. \"If I were an Oilers fan, I\'d be excited, and if I were his teammate, I\'d be thrilled to know the team is going to have some more flexibility in terms of creating a team that\'s been even more, if it\'s possible, successful.\"
The Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup Final twice in the past two seasons. McDavid originally signed his current deal in 2017.
McDavid\'s contract stands in contrast to recent high-profile signings across the league. Kirill Kaprizov secured $17 million annually with the Minnesota Wild, Jack Eichel will earn $13.5 million from the Vegas Golden Knights, and Kyle Connor landed $12 million from the Winnipeg Jets on maximum eight-year extensions.
The salary cap is set to jump from $95.5 million to $104 million next season and $113.5 million in 2026-27. Bettman dismissed suggestions those figures could increase further despite strong revenue projections.
\"I think that in the final analysis, that speaks so well as to a superstar viewing his role in the game and his personal values,\" Bettman said of McDavid\'s approach.
The NHL will expand to an 84-game regular season next year under the CBA extension completed in June. Bettman added the league continues receiving expansion interest from multiple cities.