Oilers' Connor McDavid predicted to follow contract path of 'players like this'
All eyes are on Connor McDavid.
The best player on the planet is entering the final year of his contract with the Edmonton Oilers. Will he sign a contract extension, or will he reach free agency? That's one of the stories of the NHL season, at least until McDavid makes up his mind on the matter.
McDavid will be expected to sign the biggest annual average annual value contract in NHL history, although whether it's eight years or fewer is also under question.
Oilers fans got one reassuring bit of analysis on Monday. Bleacher Report's Adam Gretz wrote that he predicts Edmonton and McDavid to reach an extension agreement.
Here's why:
"Until pen gets put to paper, there will be plenty of discussion and speculation about what Connor McDavid's future is going to be and what is going through his mind. But it's all going to be for nothing as he will eventually get a new contract extension to keep him in Edmonton for at least some time. It may not be a max-term deal, which would certainly spark some discussion as to his long-term feelings on the Oilers and the way they have built their team around him, but there is no chance he ends up getting to the unrestricted free agent market. You can dream about it. It's not happening. He will sign a new deal at some point. Players like this do not get to the open market. They just don't."
MORE: Connor McDavid has $45 million reason to look forward to contract negotiations
The Oilers are expected to have $45 million in open contract space next offseason, so there won't be much excuse for not giving McDavid something between $16-20 million per year.
It'll be a high-octane negotiation season with Jack Eichel and Kirill Kaprizov also lined up for free agency from the Golden Knights and Wild, respectively.
McDavid will top the market. He will turn 29 years old in January.
He's coming off an 100-point season in which he had 26 goals and 74 assists in just 67 games. In his career, he has played 712 games and put up 1,082 points, broken down between 36 goals and 721 assists.
McDavid has led the NHL in points in five separate seasons and in assists in four separate campaigns.
This is the best player in the world, and he'll get the contract to match.
The Oilers remain in the driver's seat, but that won't stop other teams from circling. Stay tuned, because this story will stay big until something gets done.
MORE: Jaromir Jagr may continue hockey career at age 53
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