It was jus a matter of time until Connor McDavid became a $100 million man.
The Edmonton Oilers have signed their captain to an eight year, $100 million contract.
McDavid, 20, will be an Oiler until age 29. If not longer.
McDavid was awarded the Hart Trophy at last month's NHL Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.
McDavid won the NHL’s regular-season scoring title in 2016-17 with 30 goals, 70 assists and 100 points in 82 games.
McDavid's new pact was originally speculated as an 8 year deal with $13.25M AAV.
McDavid lost money on the past week since his new contract was first leaked by media. McDavid will have to settle for $12.5M AAV.m
in 2014, the Chicago Blackhawks signed their two superstars Jonathon Toews and Patrick Kane to identical eight-year contract, $84 million contract extensions that will expire at the end of the 2022-23 season. At the time of the Toews and Kane signings, their $10.5M AAV seemed outlandish since it was a substantial increase over the matching $6.3 million cap hits from their previous contracts. At $6.3M AAV, Kane and Toews were paid a combined 23% of the Hawks' salary cap.
Today, Toews and Kane are paid a combined 30.44% of Chicago's $75million salary cap.
The Oilers edged out the Buffalo Sabres to win the NHL Draft Lottery and the privilege to select McDavid first overall at the 2015 NHL Draft.
McDavid has one year remaining on his entry-level contract. The new contract will be activated for the 2018-19 season.
As an added bonus. McDavid will be putting $86 million in signing bonuses in his Levi's jeans pocket.
McDavid's high tide will float all boats. His new contract is the new standard comparable for all future contracts to come.
Jack Eichel, the second player Selected at the 2015 NHL Draft, is eligible to begin negotiating his new contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Eichel, 20, will soon be signing a new contract. I've been prediction an eight year, $84 million contract for the former Boston University Terrier star. The Sabres would be wise to get Eichel cha-chinged to a $10.5M AAV before the market increases the cost of a number one center. Eichel will be RFA after the 2017-18 season.
McDavid's new $12.5M AAV will chew up 16.67% of the $75M salary cap.
Toronto super sophomore Auston Matthews will benefit immensely by McDavid's new deal. Winnipeg sniper Patrik Laine will also be commanding fat pay raises as well. Matthews and Laine will be RFA after the 2018-19 season. Matthews, the first overall pick in 2016, will be using McDavid's new deal as his comparable while Laine, the second overall pick in 2016 be paid similarly to the Jacob eichel contract.
Edmonton center Leon Draisaitl, 21, is also in line for his second NHL contract. All roads lead to Draisaitl signing an eight year $76 million contract.
NY Islanders sensational center John Tavares will be UFA after the 2017-18 season. Tavares will be striking it rich in his next contract.
**
Buffalo Sabres head coach Phil Housley has hired Davis Payne to serve as jia associate coach.
Payne joins the Sabres after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Kings. Prior to his time in LA, Payne spent parts of three seasons as head coach of the St. Louis Blues, who posted a 67-55-15 record during his tenure.
The Kamloops, British Colombia native joined the Blues' organization in 2007 as an assistant coach for the Peoria Rivermen.
He was named head coach of Peoria before the 2008-09 season, a post he held until becoming the Blues' head coach during the 2009-10 campaign.
**
Thirty NHL players have elected Salary Arbitration. Two of the players signed new contracts on Wednesday, therefore, only 28 of the players will be entering the arbitration process.
Montreal forward Alex Galchenyuk signed a three-year contract extension with the which makes him a $4.9M AAV.
The NY Rangers agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Jesper Fast on a three-year contract with an AAV of $1.85 million.
The arbitration-bound players, by team, are:
Arizona Coyotes Jordan Martinook
Boston Bruins Ryan Spooner
Buffalo Sabres Nathan Beaulieu Johan Larsson Robin Lehner
Calgary Flames Micheal Ferland Colorado Avalanche
Matt Nieto Detroit Red Wings Tomas Tatar
Edmonton Oilers Joey LaLeggia
Los Angeles Kings Kevin Gravel
Minnesota Wild Mikael Granlund Nino Niederreiter
Montreal Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk (player has since signed a new contract)
Nashville Predators Viktor Arvidsson Marek Mazanec Austin Watson
New York Islanders Calvin de Haan
New York Rangers Jesper Fast (player has since signed a new contract) Mika Zibanejad
Ottawa Senators Ryan Dzingel Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Pittsburgh Penguins Brian Dumoulin Conor Sheary
St. Louis Blues Colton Parayko
Tampa Bay Lightning Tyler Johnson Ondrej Palat
Vancouver Canucks Reid Boucher Michael Chaput
Vegas Golden Knights Nate Schmidt Winnipeg Jets Connor
Arbitration hearings will be held in Toronto from July 20 to Aug. 4.
The deadline for Club-Elected Salary Arbitration notification is Thursday July 6, 2017 at 5 p.m. ET.