McDavid’s $25M contract ignites NHL firestorm

Connor McDavid, Oilers aim to subdue Cutter Gauthier, Ducks.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has extended his season-opening assist and point streaks to 16 games.

He has 31 assists and 40 points this season.

That stat alone places him ahead of every other NHL player in total points — Leon Draisaitl has 29, the second-most in the league.

McDavid has dished out more assists than any other player in the NHL has points.

The Edmonton Oilers are 11-2-3 and lead the Pacific Division.

The team is on a revenge tour after losing to the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.

McDavid set up a goal against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night in Newark, N.J.

The Oilers lost that game 4-3 in a shootout, ending a three-game winning streak.

Before surrendering three goals against the Devils, Edmonton had allowed just one goal during their winning streak.

“All in all, I think we’re trending in a good spot and trending in the right direction,” Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said.

The matchup with Anaheim will mark the start of a four-game homestand for Edmonton.

“We’re finding our game a little bit, and it takes time,” Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen said.

“This road trip, I think, has been a success.

We’re just going to continue this at home.

Every day we come to work and try to get better and know the system better.”

Connor McDavid signed a two-year, $25 million contract extension on Oct. 6, 2025.

The deal carries an average annual value of $12.5 million, matching the cap hit of his previous eight-year contract.

McDavid could have pursued a longer agreement with a higher annual value.

Instead, he chose a shorter commitment that keeps his championship ambitions with Edmonton at the center of the discussion.

The Oilers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025, losing both times to the Florida Panthers.

McDavid’s decision demonstrates how much he values winning a Stanley Cup with Edmonton.

A shorter extension allows the organization to keep working toward the championship goal without tying up a big chunk of its future salary cap on one player for a few more years.

The agreement also gives McDavid more control over his next career decision.

Rather than committing to an eight-year deal, he has kept the possibility of testing unrestricted free agency after the 2027–28 season.

This arrangement creates a different kind of pressure for both the player and the organization.

McDavid has committed to two more seasons, while Edmonton must demonstrate that it can use its available resources to build a championship-caliber supporting cast.

The financial structure of McDavid’s extension gives Edmonton a predictable $12.5 million annual cap charge for both seasons.

The Oilers have the top three point-getters in the NHL, with Evan Bouchard ranking third with 28 points.

Edmonton’s power play has the NHL’s top-ranked conversion rate at 35.7%.

McDavid has three Hart Memorial Trophies (MVP) and is on pace to record 218 points, with a potential 182 assists.

The 29-year-old is on a 15-game assist streak and has recorded a power-play helper in four straight contests.

McDavid still hasn’t won a Stanley Cup, the one thing missing from his already crowded trophy case.

The Anaheim Ducks opened their three-game Canadian swing with a 5-4 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

Cutter Gauthier notched his second straight hat trick, becoming the first player in team history to accomplish that feat.

He has eight goals in the past three games overall.

“Kind of surprised some of those other legends before me haven’t done that with how good they were,” Gauthier said of the back-to-back hat tricks.

“Obviously, a really special moment, but really happy we got the two wins (in a row) and we can keep this thing going.”

Six of Gauthier’s goals during his hot streak have come on the power play, making him the first player in NHL history with multiple power-play goals in three straight games.

Gauthier and Paul Kariya (2000-01) also are the only Anaheim players with multiple goals in three straight games.