LOS ANGELES:
NHL star Connor McDavid, who sparked Edmonton to the past two Stanley Cup Finals, signed a two-year contract extension worth $25 million with the Oilers on Monday, the team announced.
The 28-year-old Canadian center took less than he likely would have gotten next year on the free agent market to stay with the team that took him first overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, an Oilers squad that last won the Stanley Cup in 1990.
“Our journey here continues,” McDavid posted on X.
McDavid has scored 361 goals and assisted on 721 others over 712 NHL regular-season games. He has 44 goals and 106 assists in 96 playoff contests.
McDavid’s move leaves the Oilers money to seek more talent to surround the three-time NHL Most Valuable Player, whose Edmonton lineup lost to Florida in the past two Stanley Cup Finals.
“It’s a very exciting day for our organization,” Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said. “He’s such a one-of-a-kind guy, a tremendous leader and so motivated to try and win.”
The Florida Panthers hang another championship banner at Tuesday’s NHL season opener against Chicago while the Oilers play host to arch-rival Calgary in their opener on Wednesday.
McDavid will keep the same $12.5 million average annual salary as he has enjoyed in the eight-year deal worth $100 million that expires this season.
It also puts McDavid back into the free agent market after an expected spike in NHL salary cap levels by as much as $18 million a team by 2018.
