The Edmonton Oilers signed captain Connor McDavid to a two-year, $25 million contract extension, the club announced Monday.
The three-time Hart Trophy winner acknowledged his extended stay in Edmonton with a post on social media that showed photos of his time in an Oilers uniform.
“Our journey here continues,” he wrote.
McDavid is entering the final season of an eight-year, $100 million deal he signed in July 2017.
A contract extension has been the topic of conversation in Edmonton all summer, with fans hoping the 28-year-old center would be locked up before he could reach free agency next summer.
Signing an extension with no increase in the $12.5 million average annual value of his prior deal shows McDavid is committed to staying in Edmonton, building the roster and winning a Stanley Cup after falling short the past two seasons. The Florida Panthers bested the Oilers in the final both years.
Had he chosen to wait for free agency, McDavid could have commanded an annual average value in excess of the $17 million given to Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov last week with his eight-year, $136 million deal.
McDavid’s teammate, Leon Draisaitl, is second in the league with a $14 million AAV.
The Oilers selected McDavid with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft. In 712 regular-season games, he has 1,082 points (361 goals, 721 assists) and is a seven-time All-Star.
In 67 games last season, he registered 100 points — his eighth 100-point season in his career.
Also Monday, the Oilers announced a seven-year, $49 million extension with defenseman Jake Walman.
