There was no red carpet, no champagne celebration — just sweatpants and a phone that wouldn’t stop buzzing.
Connor McDavid spent the biggest Monday of his career in quiet comfort.

“I didn’t get out of my sweatpants,” he laughed. “It was actually not bad. Pretty relaxing. Busy phone, but that’s okay. Exciting day for my family and I.”

It wasn’t just another contract day. McDavid, the best player in hockey, had shocked the NHL world with a two-year, $12.5 million-per-season extension — a deal that defied every expectation in an era of mega-contracts and record-setting paydays.

The number seemed modest for a man who could have demanded nearly anything. But for McDavid, it wasn’t about squeezing the cap; it was about giving his team a chance to win.

The calm after the storm

By Tuesday morning, the hockey world was still buzzing. Analysts debated the precedent, fans compared numbers, and social media was flooded with takes. But McDavid? He was simply relieved.

“I know the narrative. I know what’s out there,” he admitted. “But it’s more important about this room. The guys are happy. I’m happy. My family’s happy. That’s all that matters to me.”

He paused, the tone shifting slightly from reflective to optimistic.

“It was an exciting day for Edmonton. We got another good signing in Wall-E [Jake Walman], too, which is important. Our defense is as strong as it’s been in a long time.”

For McDavid, this wasn’t about personal milestones or headlines. It was about strengthening the fabric of a team he believes is on the cusp of something bigger.

The $12.5 million question

When pressed on why that number — $12.5 million — was the right fit, McDavid didn’t hesitate.

“It gives us a chance,” he said plainly. “I know the cap’s going up, but no one really knows how much. The thing is, we’ve got great players in this room who make big money — and I’m one of them. Twelve and a half is not nothing.”

He chuckled. “It’s a lot of money. It’s not what it could’ve been, obviously, but it gives our management a chance to spend a little bit more. And that’s ultimately what it comes down to.”

It’s not just humility. It’s strategy.

McDavid has always understood the business side of hockey. He knows that the NHL’s hard salary cap isn’t just a rule — it’s a ceiling that defines dynasties and dooms hopefuls. Every million matters.

“It’s a cap system,” he said. “Love it, hate it — whatever. It’s our system. And when you’ve got a great team, you spend right to the cap every year. We want them to keep doing that. Hopefully my two cents help.”

Those two cents, in McDavid’s case, are worth several million dollars.

The power of two

The other number that caught everyone’s attention wasn’t 12.5 — it was two.
Two years.

Not eight, not four — just two. A decision that hinted at both confidence and calculation.

“Two years makes a lot of sense,” McDavid explained. “It’s kind of a changing landscape across the league with the cap structure and all that. No one really knows what’s going to happen with it. Our team is in a place to win now, so it makes sense.”

For McDavid, the short term isn’t about insecurity — it’s about flexibility.

He’s seen what long contracts can do to rosters, how teams can get trapped by their own ambitions. The Oilers, he believes, are ready to seize the present, not dwell in projections.

“What I want to see during these two years?” he said. “Great teams that compete right to June, like we have the last couple of years. That’s the goal every single year.”

In his voice, there was a quiet confidence — the tone of a man who has stopped chasing individual greatness and started chasing immortality.

Relief — for everyone else

Asked whether he felt more relief over finalizing the deal or over no longer having to answer questions about it, McDavid smirked.

“Probably for you guys,” he said. “I’m sure it gets old for everybody. Nice to get it out of the way, mostly for the guys in the room. It’s not easy for them to have to talk about somebody else’s deal, somebody else’s situation. So, glad they don’t have to deal with that anymore.”

Even in the moment, McDavid made it about the team — the same team he’d just sacrificed a chunk of salary to help.

It’s the kind of leadership that rarely needs to be loud.

New faces, same mission

Despite the spotlight on his contract, McDavid was quick to pivot to what really excites him: the upcoming season.

“I think we’re going to be a great team,” he said firmly. “We’ve got some young guys — Sav, Howie — both great players. Pod’s still young. Reggie’s healthy again and looks great.”

He leaned forward, voice charged with energy.

“There’s some young faces in here, and that’s always exciting. Brings speed, energy. I’m excited about the year. We’ve got a lot of familiar faces too, and we know what they’re about. I think we’ve got a good team and I’m excited to get it going.”

It was classic McDavid — understated, forward-focused, quietly hungry.

A captain’s calculus

In a sport where the line between loyalty and leverage can be razor-thin, McDavid’s decision stands as both selfless and self-assured.

Yes, $12.5 million per year is still elite money — but the statement lies in what it isn’t. It isn’t the maximum. It isn’t the ceiling. It’s a calculated choice that puts belief above greed.

To some, it’s proof of his obsession with winning — a symbolic gesture of his willingness to put team above self. To others, it’s just another chapter in the impossible expectations placed on hockey’s brightest star.

Either way, the message is clear: Connor McDavid is done waiting.

Two years. One mission. No excuses.