The Edmonton Oilers are re-signing captain Connor McDavid and defenseman Jake Walman to contract extensions. McDavid signed a two-year deal worth $25 million and Walman signed a seven-year contract worth $49 million.
The re-signing of McDavid to this contract is stunning to say the least. That is because he is not getting a pay raise of his current salary where is making $12.5 million per season.
What this says to the Oilers management is simple. McDavid has supplied Oilers management with some more money to upgrade the team. If they need to upgrade their forward group or goaltending situation, there are no longer any excuses whatsoever.
Is McDavid a better player than Karill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild, who is about to make $4.5 million more than him? Of course he is. But the Oilers are in a better position now than the Wild to win a Stanley Cup, and McDavid showed exemplary leadership in realizing the Oilers challenges of trying to win a Stanley Cup in a salary cap era. By not taking a pay raise, the Oilers could sign Walman to an extension.
This whole process was not necessarily about money. It was about winning and winning now. It is also rather amusing that Leon Draisaitl is making $1.5 million more than McDavid, who is arguably the best player in our generation. One must remember this is a contract extension for McDavid and does not kick in until 2026-27.
McDavid is also following the lead of the generational talent before him, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, has only been making $8.7 million per season since 2008-09.
McDavid’s 2024-25 NHL statistics
McDavid had 26 goals and 74 assists for 100 points. He was a +20 with 37 penalty minutes, 31 power-play points, three game-winning goals, 196 shots on goal, 370 faceoff wins, 18 blocked shots, 40 hits, 32 takeaways, and 74 giveaways.
Walman’s 2024-25 NHL statistics
Walman shared his time last season with the San Jose Sharks and Oilers. In 65 games, he had seven goals and 33 assists for 40 points. Walman was a +4 with 42 penalty minutes, eight power-play points, one game-winning goal, one shorthanded point, 164 shots on goal, 145 blocked shots, 57 hits, 27 takeaways, and 80 giveaways.
Walman’s game-winning goal came on December 12 in a 4-3 Sharks win over the St. Louis Blues. Walman scored from Nikolai Kovalenko and Nico Sturm at 6:01 of the third period. The shorthanded point was a shorthanded assist on a goal by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and came in a 5-4 Oilers win over the Seattle Kraken.
