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Calgary4LIfe · 08-28-2025, 12:13 PM

Things become interesting for McDavid. If he is all about the benjamins, then it is a fairly complicated mess right now, given the mix of:

1) He will be 29 in January.
2) Salary cap is substantially rising in the next few years
3) Contract length changes in the next year

He will have to weight the above with the risk of getting injured. McDavid becoming a UFA with a wonky knee in 2-3 seasons (when he enters his 30's) is not the same as prime McDavid. There is also the chance (knock on wood - I don't wish it on anyone) to have a career ending injury and not have that big deal in your pocket, right? I think is honestly a really difficult decision for him to make.

However, what it definitely sounds like is that he doesn't want to stay there. This isn't a Gaudreau situation in which Gaudreau DID want to re-sign here - and probably would have if offered more at the time, but once it went to the final buzzer, going UFA became too attractive to pass up. There is no negotiating. If McDavid says "Only 1 year, max dollar", the Oilers say "Yes sir, thank you sir". There is no player in the entire league with as much negotiating power as McDavid has right now. None. So it has squat to do with negotiations.

I think he is really weighing his options, and I wouldn't be surprised at this point if that also meant wondering if he should move this season and extending with his preferred destination. It is a lot of money to consider. I am not as convinced a 2-3 year deal is smart for him. If he stays healthy, it certainly is mathematically the best move to make with the rising cap. I do think it is a lot to consider.

For me, this is my tier of 'best outcomes' as a Flames fan.

1) Leave as a UFA. Nobody will want to go there any longer, so the cap space will be irrelevant. Oilers have nothing coming up the pipe either. That team will be sunk.

2) Re-sign. Oilers have gone back-to-back to the Finals, and that's certainly scary as a Flames' fan. However, they have built a rather terrible team, and they have nothing coming up the pipe, and they don't have cap space. McDavid's deal will chew all of the available space, so you will have an older, declining team even with McDavid.

3) Trading McDavid. I think they may end up being a better team if the right package is offered. Good players + prospects. In today's NHL, you aren't going to get the Lindros deal, especially since McDavid is 28 right now (turning 29 halfway through the season). However, I would expect the richest deal since the salary cap was instituted. it could really build a future contender on Edmonton, and I definitely don't want that.

So here's hoping he just drags it out this year, and walks away in the off-season.

08-28-2025, 12:13 PM	#8240
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	Things become interesting for McDavid. If he is all about the benjamins, then it is a fairly complicated mess right now, given the mix of: 1) He will be 29 in January. 2) Salary cap is substantially rising in the next few years 3) Contract length changes in the next year He will have to weight the above with the risk of getting injured. McDavid becoming a UFA with a wonky knee in 2-3 seasons (when he enters his 30's) is not the same as prime McDavid. There is also the chance (knock on wood - I don't wish it on anyone) to have a career ending injury and not have that big deal in your pocket, right? I think is honestly a really difficult decision for him to make. However, what it definitely sounds like is that he doesn't want to stay there. This isn't a Gaudreau situation in which Gaudreau DID want to re-sign here - and probably would have if offered more at the time, but once it went to the final buzzer, going UFA became too attractive to pass up. There is no negotiating. If McDavid says "Only 1 year, max dollar", the Oilers say "Yes sir, thank you sir". There is no player in the entire league with as much negotiating power as McDavid has right now. None. So it has squat to do with negotiations. I think he is really weighing his options, and I wouldn't be surprised at this point if that also meant wondering if he should move this season and extending with his preferred destination. It is a lot of money to consider. I am not as convinced a 2-3 year deal is smart for him. If he stays healthy, it certainly is mathematically the best move to make with the rising cap. I do think it is a lot to consider. For me, this is my tier of 'best outcomes' as a Flames fan. 1) Leave as a UFA. Nobody will want to go there any longer, so the cap space will be irrelevant. Oilers have nothing coming up the pipe either. That team will be sunk. 2) Re-sign. Oilers have gone back-to-back to the Finals, and that's certainly scary as a Flames' fan. However, they have built a rather terrible team, and they have nothing coming up the pipe, and they don't have cap space. McDavid's deal will chew all of the available space, so you will have an older, declining team even with McDavid. 3) Trading McDavid. I think they may end up being a better team if the right package is offered. Good players + prospects. In today's NHL, you aren't going to get the Lindros deal, especially since McDavid is 28 right now (turning 29 halfway through the season). However, I would expect the richest deal since the salary cap was instituted. it could really build a future contender on Edmonton, and I definitely don't want that. So here's hoping he just drags it out this year, and walks away in the off-season.