When it comes to NHL contracts, the league does not hand out nearly as lucrative of deals as other sports. Soccer, football, basketball, and baseball all blow hockey out of the water when talking dollar signs.
With that said, that doesn’t mean those playing at the highest level of the sport can’t make a pretty penny off their abilities. Not many know that better than Connor McDavid.
The Oilers superstar is the best player in the game, and it’s not close. The No. 1 overall pick from 2015 has far surpassed expectations, wasting no time becoming a dominant force in the NHL. McDavid has collected plenty of hardware in his career due to his offensive abilities.
He’s also picked up a fat paycheck, as well. Edmonton awarded McDavid long ago for his efforts, making him the highest-paid player at the time. That has since changed, but the Oilers captain remains one of the players earning the most salary year in and year out.
Here’s what to know about McDavid’s contract with the Oilers and where he ranks in the NHL.
MORE: Has Connor McDavid won a Stanley Cup? Full playoff history for Oilers captain
Connor McDavid contract
McDavid owns one of the largest contracts in the NHL. He and the Oilers made history in the summer of 2017 when the two sides agreed to an eight-year, $100 million contract extension, carrying a cap hit of $12.5 million, which set a league record.
At the time of the signing, McDavid was just 20, coming off his second season in the league. The deal kicked in during the 2018-19 season and remains active to this day.
The Oilers and McDavid are going to have to talk money again soon. He is signed through 2025-26, but he will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Here are the full details on his contract.
| Season | AAV |
| 2018-19 | $12,500,000 |
| 2019-20 | $12,500,000 |
| 2020-21 | $12,500,000 |
| 2021-22 | $12,500,000 |
| 2022-23 | $12,500,000 |
| 2023-24 | $12,500,000 |
| 2024-25 | $12,500,000 |
| 2025-26 | $12,500,000 |
| 2026-27 | UFA |
Highest-paid players in NHL
2023-24
For this season, McDavid owns the second-highest AAV in the league. Only Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon makes more than the Oilers captain.
MacKinnon’s massive extensions kicked in this season, and as a result, he overtook McDavid for No. 1 on the highest-paid player list. It was an honor that McDavid held dating back to 2018 when he signed his $100 million deal.
MORE: When was the last time the Oilers won the Stanley Cup?
Here is a look at the top-10 highest-paid players in the NHL for 2023-24.
| Rank | Player | Team | AAV |
| 1 | Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche | $12.6 million |
| 2 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | $12.5 million |
| 3 | Artemi Panarin | New York Rangers | $11.642 million |
| 4 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | $11.64 million |
| 5 | Erik Karlsson | Pittsburgh Penguins | $11.5 million |
| 6 | David Pastrnak | Boston Bruins | $11.25 million |
| 7 | Drew Doughty | Los Angeles Kings | $11 million |
| John Tavares | Toronto Maple Leafs | $11 million | |
| 9 | Mitch Marner | Toronto Maple Leafs | $10.903 million |
| 10 | Carey Price | Montreal Canadiens | $10.5 million |
| Jonathan Huberdeau | Calgary Flames | $10.5 million |
2024-25
Next year, there is a shakeup at the top. Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews’ new deal that kicks in this summer will soon make him the highest-paid player in the NHL, averaging out to $13.25 million a year. He’s the first player in the league to make at least $13 million, surpassing the previous record set by MacKinnon.
As a result, McDavid will soon be knocked down to No. 3 on the list.
In addition to Matthews’ new placement, there are three other names now in the top 10 thanks to lucrative extensions signed recently. That includes Canucks center Elias Pettersson, Maple Leafs winger William Nylander, and Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.
Here is a look at the top-10 highest-paid players in the NHL for 2024-25.
| Rank | Player | Team | AAV |
| 1 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | $13.25 million |
| 2 | Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche | $12.6 million |
| 3 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | $12.5 million |
| 4 | Artemi Panarin | New York Rangers | $11.642 million |
| 5 | Elias Pettersson | Vancouver Canucks | $11.6 million |
| 6 | Erik Karlsson | Pittsburgh Penguins | $11.5 million |
| William Nylander | Toronto Maple Leafs | $11.5 million | |
| 8 | David Pastrnak | Boston Bruins | $11.25 million |
| 9 | Drew Doughty | Los Angeles Kings | $11 million |
| John Tavares | Toronto Maple Leafs | $11 million | |
| Rasmus Dahlin | BUffalo Sabres | $11 million |
Read the full article here
