Sidney Crosby simply signed a particularly team-friendly cope with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a two-year extension price $8.7 million per season. He’s repeatedly left cash on the desk with the Penguins desirous to be a workforce participant and keep in a single metropolis his total profession. Will Connor McDavid comply with swimsuit and work with the Edmonton Oilers, signing what might be a deal that permits Edmonton to construct round him?
In keeping with estimates, Crosby has left roughly $43 million on the desk taking an $8.7 million deal each season since 2008-09. This isn’t to recommend that McDavid will signal a $9.7 million long-term extension and make it doable for the Oilers so as to add vital items. That mentioned, McDavid may shave a few million per 12 months of what he’s eligible to ask for and would receives a commission if he wished it. With the wage cap anticipated to rise to $92 million subsequent season, realistically, McDavid may command greater than $18 million per season and get it.
McDavid is his personal individual and can do what’s greatest for himself and the Oilers. On the similar time, it’s laborious to not think about {that a} participant like Crosby taking a two-year contract extension at a a lot decrease AAV than he may have earned isn’t considerably motivating.
What may have been a $16-$17 million extension per 12 months, may wind up coming in decrease than that if McDavid sees Crosby as considerably of a mentor. The Penguins aren’t in the identical place because the Oilers — Edmonton is a contender and Pittsburgh isn’t — however legacies matter within the NHL. The 2 gamers aren’t on the similar place of their respective careers both — Crosby is 10 years older.
All that mentioned, may Crosby’s option to work with the Penguins encourage McDavid to do the identical?
How A lot Will McDavid Shave Off His Contract Ask?
Leon Draisaitl signed for $14 million per season. Undoubtedly, McDavid’s deal will are available in greater than that. McDavid, nevertheless, could also be prepared to discover a solution to are available in simply above Draisaitl’s, realizing the sort of goodwill such a contract would carry to an Oilers workforce determined to win.
It is going to be fascinating to see how a lot, if in any respect, Crosby’s contract influences what McDavid does. The 2 contracts received’t be used as comparables by McDavid’s agent, however as a generational expertise, nobody needs to be shocked if McDavid sees what Crosby simply did and decides to comply with swimsuit, in his personal manner.
Subsequent: Stan Bowman Particulars Plans to Bolster Oilers’ Supporting Solid
