Warning issued in situation concerning Connor McDavid in Edmonton

The Edmonton Oilers had a big day yesterday by signing Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year contract extension with a historic $14-million average annual value. While the move is impressive and great news for the Oilers, it also comes with cons and even a warning. Courtesy of Draisaitl himself.

When answering questions on his new deal, the German superstar opened up about teammate Connor McDavid’s potential contract extension with the club. Draisaitl hopes his extension leads to McDavid signing a similar one next summer, however, he added:

“Connor’s going to do what’s best for him, right?” he said on Tuesday when asked about each of them doing what’s best for themselves. “That’s just the way this works, and it’s supposed to work this way. I did what I felt was best for me personally.

“Do I hope Connor follows along? I’d be lying if I said no. Of course I want him to stay on board, and i want all our pieces to stay on board.”

McDavid has two years left on his $12.5 million per year deal, but can re-up in Edmonton as early as July 1, 2025. When writing on Draisaitl’s historic extension, James Mirtle of the Athletic wonders if it does not make things too complex for the Oilers’ captain next summer.

“The more complicated question looking at all of this cap math is what that means for McDavid, who is peerless in the league. He has won more major individual awards (14 of the Hart, Lindsay, Art Ross, Richard and Conn Smythe) than the other three top salaried players combined. He’s piled up 610 points over the past five seasons (1.7 points per game) when only his teammate, Draisaitl, has cleared 500 (538) leaguewide.

"McDavid is, in short, one of one. And one of the best players to ever play the sport.
Fifteen percent isn’t going to work.”

McDavid should also get a big raise on his $12.5-million cap hit, but Edmonton will still need to to build a competitive roster around all those massive contracts, with Evan Bouchard still to re-sign for 2025-26 as well. Draisaitl’s deal is well-deserved, but it also limit their flexibility in acquiring other players or re-signing current ones, like McDavid and Bouchard.

Insider Frank Seravalli is adamant that getting Draisaitl inked to this hefty extension basically ensures that McDavid will stay put in Edmonton.

“It’s now a 100 per cent shot that Connor McDavid re-signs with the Edmonton Oilers ,” Seravalli told Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now. “Because there is no chance that he’s leaving. I didn’t think there was to begin with. And certainly not now with Leon Draisaitl looked up for the long term…. There’s no way that Leon is signing if there is a chance that Connor is not.”

Sure, I get that the Oilers have a great shot at keeping McDavid, and even Bouchard with Draisaitl committed to Edmonton, but you have to realize that their percentages of the total salary cap will affect the quality of the team’s depth.
And let’s not forget about that warning Draisaitl issued in his press conference…