Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid on track for record-breaking extensions with the NHL salary cap inrease (Image credit: Imagn)

With the NHL salary cap increasing each year, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are poised to become the highest-paid players in NHL history. For the 2024–25 season, the NHL cap was increased to $88 million, up from $83.5 million last season. Given the increase, the expectation is that the cap will once again go up for the 2025–26 season.

On “The Steve Dangle Podcast” this week, hosts Steve Dangle, Jesse Blake and Adam Wylde discussed future contract extensions for Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.

AW: “The Oilers are going to give these two players, McDavid and Draisaitl, a blank check. What do you want?”
JB: “Auston is the highest-paid player next season starting at $13.5 million?”

When Leon Draisaitl enters free agency next summer, he is expected to sign the richest extension in NHL history. Similarly, assuming the cap rises again the following season, Connor McDavid would be entitled to sign a record-breaking contract.

Currently, it’s Auston Matthews’s contract that carries the largest cap hit with $13.25 million; however, as other stars such as Draisaitl and McDavid sign new extensions, that will change.

Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid impresses last season

The 2023–24 season was impressive for Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and the Edmonton Oilers, despite the team coming up short of their ultimate goal of a Stanley Cup win.

In the first round, the team tore through the LA Kings in five games before meeting the Vancouver Canucks, who were fresh off a six-game series against the Predators in round one. Leon Draisaitl racked up 14 points, while Connor McDavid logged nine in the second-round series.

The team then won the Western Conference in six games, defeating the Dallas Stars, with Connor McDavid leading the way with 10 points. Despite coming up short in the Stanley Cup Final series against the Panthers, both Draisaitl and McDavid impressed.

Draisaitl became the third-fastest player in NHL history to tally 100 career points in the playoffs, doing so in just 60 games, behind Mario Lemieux (50 games) and Wayne Gretzky (46 games).

In the case of McDavid, the Edmonton captain was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, joining a select list of players who were presented with the award despite being on the losing team in the Stanley Cup Finals.

With their remarkable play, when the two begin contract extension talk, it seems highly likely that they will become the highest-paid players in the league.