NHL analyst Zach Laing projects that, despite the rising cap, Connor McDavid may not take the max contract, and could make around $14 to $15 million per year. Connor McDavid can <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl/news/elliotte-friedman-says-mcdavid-and-kaprizov-will-set-the-bar-for-2026-nhl-free-agent-contracts' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>walk into contract negotiations with the Edmonton Oilers and dictate his price</a>. He's worth it to the team and the city. However, with the salary cap in place in the NHL, taking a maximum of $19.1 million (20% of the cap) would hinder the ability to surround him with a competitive roster, and winning a Stanley Cup is Connor McDavid's top concern. Decision one: term. A four-year agreement, <a href='https://oilersnation.com/news/connor-mcdavid-contract-extension-projection-edmonton-oilers' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>per NHL analyst Zach Laing of 'Oilers Nation'</a>, would allow the 28-year-old to cash in once more in his early 30s, whereas an eight-year agreement would set him up for life in Edmonton. While some think a shorter term is feasible, McDavid's aversion to contract distractions, combined with Leon Draisaitl's recent eight-year extension, indicates a long-term deal could be more probable. Historically, McDavid has taken Leon Draisaitl's cue; in 2017, he inked an eight-year contract one year after his teammate, even leaving $500,000 less per year on the table to aid the team. That contract's $12.5 million cap hit was the NHL's largest in 2018-19, 15.72% of the cap at that moment. At the same rate now, his hit would be close to $15 million. With a similar one to Draisaitl's $14 million extension, McDavid could fall in the vicinity of $15.5 million, per Zach Laing. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1953804783183446102'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <h3>Evolving Hockey Projects an 85% Chance McDavid Signs an Eight-Year, $14.54 Million AAV Contract</h3> Evolving Hockey, however, projects the most likely outcome as an eight-year, $14.54 million cap hit with an 85% chance of that outcome. The second most likely is a seven-year deal at $14.55 million. Shorter terms, four or five years, are calculated at $13.94 million and $13.69 million, respectively. McDavid can't be compared to anybody else in the NHL today. Whatever the figure, Oilers management has to make sure the supporting cast around him is good enough to contend for titles during his next contract.