The NHL has always been surprising to its audience, with contract extensions and trades. Indeed, these take place depending upon the financial condition of the player and also the player who is considered in these deals. For the Edmonton Oilers, in the next season, their captain, Connor McDavid, will run out of his eight-year, $100 million contract that he signed back in 2017.

With the #97 needing a contract extension, the Oilers might be looking forward to something that will shock the community. Indeed, in the upcoming seasons, the salary cap will be increasing, as will the total amount of the contracts that will be offered during that time period. And this makes it a perfect time for McDavid to get a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract from the Oilers, the team that he has given everything to throughout his NHL career.

So, what’s the deal with this limit upgrade in the NHL? A few days ago, multiple sources reported that for the next three seasons, the NHL and NHLPA have released an updated salary cap. Indeed, these were just estimates, but they showcased a bright future for the sport. For the 2025-26 season, the salary cap limit will be $95.5 million, followed by the 2026-27 season with $104 million and the 2027-28 season with $113.5 million.

The aforementioned amounts are huge, considering the current cap is just $88 million. And what was the take of the NHL commissioner on this? According to the official website of the league, on December 10, he shared his thoughts, stating, “The cap under the current guidelines in the Collective Bargaining Agreement would go up 5 percent. As we look at revenues, we’re going to have discussions with the Players’ Association about escrow levels and whether or not the cap can or should be tweaked a little more on an ongoing basis, but that’s something that we have to really work out with the Players’ Association and we’re having those discussions.”

But, when will all of these decisions be final? There is time for it, since there will be an official announcement on this before the current season’s Stanley Cup following extensive deliberations behind the scenes. But how will this help guys like Connor McDavid? The Oilers captain’s contract will expire at the end of the 2025-26 season. And the team is unlikely to give up on such a guy, who is not only important on the rink but also has a strong reputation off it.

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When there were contract negotiations in 2017, he obtained an eight-year, $100 million contract signed by Peter Chiarelli, the Oilers’ former general manager, and Daryl Katz, the team’s owner, who authorized the huge contract. However, when given the opportunity to leave the Oilers, why won’t McDavid consider a transfer to a team capable of winning the Stanley Cup?

Connor McDavid’s reason to stay with the Edmonton Oilers

You can say that Connor McDavid is “loyal.” He was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and grew up around hockey. And, guess what? The Edmonton Oilers selected him first overall in the 2015 NHL draft and pressed him to play immediately afterward. McDavid eventually obtained a contract extension, and he will always prefer to lead the team to the Stanley Cup rather than join a contender team.

Indeed, the #97 is not without demand in the market. Many teams would love to have him, including one of the Oilers’ rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. McDavid, on the other hand, has developed a professional and personal attachment to the Oilers as a result of years of NHL competition. The organization has also attempted to acquire players who will perform with him, such as Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, and others.

If McDavid wins the Stanley Cup for the Oilers, he will be automatically associated with Wayne Gretzky’s grandeur. Indeed, it has been a long time since the Oilers have held that prestigious trophy and #97 will undoubtedly want to carry on the legacy that #99 established for the team.