Connor McDavid‘s contract value has become one of hockey’s biggest talking points. While former NHL player Ryan Whitney believes the Edmonton Oilers captain deserves a historic $23 million annual salary, NHL insider Jason Gregor does not see that happening.
Speaking on The Jason Gregor Show, Gregor dismissed the growing speculation surrounding McDavid’s next contract. He argued that the Oilers captain values winning far more than setting salary records.
Gregor also challenged comparisons made on Spittin’ Chiclets between McDavid and recent blockbuster contracts.
“Conor McDavid has more money than he’ll ever need on his next deal,” Gregor said.
He then criticized the logic behind comparing different contract situations.
“I saw Spittin’ Chiclets saying, “Oh yeah, he’s going to take $23 million.” Okay,” Gregor said. “That’s the same people that said Cutter Gauthier isn’t taking a cent less than $18 million, like Leo Carlsson. Well, first of all, you can’t compare offer sheets and arbitration. So it doesn’t work. It’s a center to a winger.”
Whitney recently argued the NHL’s rising salary market (jumping to $104 million in 2026-27) has changed superstar valuations.
“The fact is, Rantanen and Marner and MacKinnon, for a little while now, these guys are so underpaid,” Whitney said on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. “McDavid realistically should be getting $23 million a year.”
Keith Yandle agreed, saying, “Yeah. Or even more.”
Paul Bissonnette went further, with “I think McDavid could get a $200 million deal.”
Those projections came as league salaries climbed rapidly. Leo Carlsson now leads the NHL with an $18 million cap hit, followed by Kirill Kaprizov at $17 million. McDavid, meanwhile, remains at $12.5 million annually despite leading the league with 138 points last season.
Gregor believes championships matters more to Connor McDavid than record salaries
Gregor insisted McDavid would never sacrifice roster depth simply to maximize his earnings.
“Hey, I get it. That’s run by former players, and they want the players to get as much as they can,” Gregor said. “But you think Connor McDavid is going to go and try to get $23 million? If Connor McDavid hasn’t won a Cup in two years and his contract’s up, you think he’s going to want to get as much as he can because that will just lower his chance of winning? It makes no sense from a pure rational thought process.”
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He explained why such a contract could hurt any contender.
“McDavid wants to win,” Gregor said. “Taking $23 million? I’m not going to do it, whether it’s in Edmonton or anywhere. He’s not going to do it because he wants to win, and he knows if he takes up too much, his chance of winning is less. It’s just how it goes.”
Gregor believes that simple reality outweighs market value.
Edmonton’s Cup window depends on roster flexibility
McDavid signed a two-year, $25 million extension on October 6, 2025, keeping his cap hit unchanged through 2027-28. The short-term agreement gives general manager Stan Bowman valuable flexibility while preserving Edmonton’s championship core.
The Oilers also reshaped their roster after a disappointing first-round playoff exit in 2025-26 season. Mike Babcock replaced Kris Knoblauch as head coach. Frederik Andersen, Connor Murphy, Ryan Shea, and other additions addressed key weaknesses.
Whitney’s argument reflects McDavid’s unmatched value. No player consistently impacts games at his level, making a $23 million salary easy to justify on talent alone.
Gregor’s view, however, better matches how elite contenders operate. Championship teams rarely succeed when one contract dominates the salary cap. McDavid has repeatedly prioritized winning over maximizing income.
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That philosophy gives Edmonton its best chance to capitalize on the next two seasons. If the Oilers finally capture the Stanley Cup, McDavid’s contract could become one of hockey’s greatest team-friendly deals despite his status as the league’s best player.
