Macklin Celebrini’s new contract is a reminder of just how much Connor McDavid gave up to stay with the Edmonton Oilers.
Celebrini, who stamped himself last season as the next great Canadian hockey player, has landed a five-year, $94 million extension with the San Jose Sharks. That works out to an average of $18.8 million per season, a massive jump from the rookie maximum he’s on now: a $975,000 base salary with more than $3 million in performance bonuses.
The deal is a huge bet by Sharks general manager Mike Grier, but it also puts the league’s salary climb in sharp relief. Celebrini’s extension makes him the highest-paid player in the NHL for the moment, topping Leo Carlsson’s brief stay at the top. And with the new collective bargaining agreement set to remove the eight-year deals that are available now, Celebrini’s five-year term fits the moment.
That’s where McDavid’s choice stands out. Professional players have a short window to cash in, which makes his decision to take the same salary on a short-term deal with Edmonton all the more striking. Leon Draisaitl also accepted a hefty raise when he signed his extension, but McDavid could have easily been making $20 million this season.
Instead, he left money on the table in the clearest possible sign that he wants to win in Edmonton.
For the Oilers, that sacrifice matters beyond the headline. Having extra cap space gives them room to make the roster more competitive. If McDavid were paid what he was truly worth, Edmonton would be much tighter against the cap, which would affect their leverage in moves like the Darnell Nurse trade and leave them more exposed to offer sheets from teams looking to help themselves and hurt the Oilers at the same time.
There has been plenty of change in Edmonton this summer. Now the question is whether it can deliver the one thing McDavid’s decision was really about: a Stanley Cup ring.
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