As the dust begins to settle on the shockwaves stemming from Connor McDavid’s two-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers, one thing begins to emerge: He’s a supremely selfless person.
McDavid could have stuck it to the Oilers. He could have said, “Pay me,” and the Oilers would have done cartwheels. Instead, he followed Sidney Crosby’s lead and cut his team a huge break.
The Oilers captain did not get a raise. Sure, it’s only for two years, but he didn’t even try to top his best friend Leon Draisaitl. McDavid could have gotten, say, $14.5 million just to be the highest-paid player on the team.
But he didn’t.
He could have asked for $17.5 million just to surpass Kirill Kaprizov.
But he didn’t.
I think you see where I’m going with this. What McDavid’s deal signals is that he believes in the Oilers being short-term contenders. He and his camp feel that the Oilers could win a Stanley Cup within the next three seasons. That’s why he didn’t stick it to the club. He cut his team a break so that the cap space incoming next season and beyond can be allocated to a purposeful upgrade in various areas.
McDavid’s deal allows Oilers to extend key blueliner
Connor McDavid’s selfless move has opened the door for the Oilers to re-sign key blueliner Jake Walman.
Let’s pause there for a second.
If McDavid pushes the Oilers to $19 or even $20 million, the club can’t sign Walman to a reported seven-year, $49 million extension. Instead, the club would be forced to either trade Walman or pass on him in free agency.
That’s the incredible opportunity that McDavid allowed the Oilers with his contract extension. Beyond Walman, one would have to think that another key extension could be Mattias Ekholm. There’s also the goaltending situation that will require some attention.
Perhaps the Oilers now have the flexibility to pull the trigger on a significant move for a goalie. That could be part of the cascading effect deriving from McDavid’s extension.
All told, the Edmonton Oilers are now the team to beat. The weakened Florida Panthers, while still a deep club, cannot compare to the Oilers now. The message sent by McDavid and Walman’s extensions signifies the Oilers are ready to compete.
Could a third-straight Stanley Cup appearance be out of the question? Hardly. The Oilers have the wherewithal and, most importantly, the peace of mind in knowing they will be a legitimate contender for the time being.