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The buzz that had been hanging around the Edmonton Oilers and their fans for months finally settled down when captain Connor McDavid inked a two-year, $25 million contract extension. The deal, which carries an average annual value of $12.5 million, was announced by General Manager Stan Bowman, who noted that the terms were what McDavid himself wanted, facilitating a team-friendly cap hit that helps keep the Oilers’ championship window open.

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McDavid shared his thoughts on the decision, saying, “It gives us a chance to continue chasing down what we’ve been chasing down here with the core guys we have in here and we have a little bit of money to work with too. I think the deal makes sense to both sides.” The signing quickly changed the conversation from contract worries to what’s happening on the ice. It didn’t take long for the best hockey player in the world to make a bold statement about what the Oilers can look forward to in the years ahead.

That statement wasn’t about a goal or an assist; it was all about that incredible, jaw-dropping speed. As reported by Ryan Rishaug on X, “Is McDavid faster than ever? According to NHL Edge, McDavid hit 24.61 mph last night for a top speed. The highest top speed he has registered since they started tracking it in 21/22 – regular season or playoffs. Previous high was 24.19. Last season’s high was 23.97. He also registered 14 bursts over 20mph last night. He averaged that 6.6 times per game last season. Small margins, but notable for the guy who plays the game at speed better than anyone else.”

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This new speed metric isn’t just a figure; it really shows off Connor McDavid’s incredible physical talents and his constant push to get better. Even when he’s at his best, he still manages to discover little ways to take his game to the next level. His speed has always been a key part of what makes him so dominant.

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It lets him switch from defense to offense in a flash, making other teams scramble to change their whole defensive setup just to keep up with his explosiveness. The Oilers and their fans are really enjoying the fact that their captain is signed on for the future. At the same time, they’re seeing him take his game to new heights, skating faster than ever as he chases that championship for Edmonton. But, you know, there was definitely a price to pay for keeping him in the team.

Connor McDavid justified his contract extension

It takes time to build a team around a specific player, and you can bet the Edmonton Oilers weren’t about to risk losing Connor McDavid. He’s been the foundation of the team for ten years now. Recently, after he signed the contract extension, McDavid mentioned something interesting. He said, “There’s no secret that for a team that pushes for it every year like we have for the last four or five years — we’ve given up first-round picks and prospects — there aren’t a ton of young guys. Two years gives us a chance to play this out. It gives us every opportunity to build something here.”

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The Oilers have had quite the journey navigating their tricky salary cap situation lately. They ended up losing RFAs like Dylan Holloway and Phillip Broberg to an offer sheet, and had to make some cap-dump trades with players like Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson just to hold onto their key contributors. McDavid’s new contract is a response to this challenge.

So, by not going for a potential max deal, GM Stan Bowman got some extra financial flexibility. And he wasted no time using that to sign defenseman Jake Walman to a seven-year, $49 million contract. The captain made it clear that moving forward isn’t just about counting on new draft picks; it’s really about maximizing the potential of the team they’ve got at the moment. The Oilers have a couple of years to show they can snag that Stanley Cup with McDavid on their team.

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