‘It’s a testament to Connor’s commitment to Edmonton’: Gary Bettman discusses McDavid’s contract, rising salaries
TORONTO, Ont. – Salaries for top NHL stars are starting to change.
What started with Kirill Kaprizov’s massive record-breaking deal a few weeks ago turned into major deals for many of the NHL’s top players, including Connor McDavid, Kyle Connor and Jack Eichel. But no deal turned more heads than McDavid’s two-year, $12.5 million AAV extension – way below the perceived market value.
In an impromptu media availability with the media ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens season opener on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was asked about McDavid’s contract.
“It’s a lot of money by any standard,” Bettman said in a response to a question from Canadian Press reporter Josh Clipperton. “I think it’s a testament to Connor’s passion for the game and his commitment to Edmonton. And if I were an Oilers fan, I’d be excited. And if I were his teammate, I’d be thrilled to know that the team’s going to have some more flexibility in terms of creating a team that’s been even more successful if it’s possible.”
The 2026 NHL free agent class was starting to look like one of the deepest in league history. Suddenly, with so many high-profile players off the board, it’s looking a little bleak.
Bettman, however, doesn’t see it as an issue. Artemi Panarin and Martin Necas are among the top UFAs left on the market heading into 2026, with the possibility of both signing well in advance of July 1, 2026.
“I think a lot of fans like having continuity and rooting for their players,” Bettman said. “If you poll most fans, they probably don’t like free agency. I mean, it’s good for your business in terms of writing stories,” Bettman said, with a laugh. “But if you’re a lifelong fan of the team and you’ve watched a young player, a superstar in some cases, develop and grow, you like seeing him stay where he is.”
Among other topics, Bettman said that despite the Toronto Maple Leafs being listed by Sportico as the NHL’s most valuable, there has been no push by any groups to bring a second team to the city.
“If there’s an applicant who can show us strong ownership, a suitable market, a suitable arena, and can make the case that we’ll make the league stronger, then we’ll take a look at it,” Bettman said. “But we’re not in an expansion process, and we’re not committed to expansion at this point in time.”
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