Connor McDavid sparks backlash with blunt remarks about young players after his contract extension

Connor McDavid has officially ended months of speculation about his future by signing a two-year, $25 million extension with the Edmonton Oilers, a deal that surprised many around the league. Despite being the NHL’s biggest superstar, McDavid accepted an annual average value (AAV) of $12.5 million, a figure well below the record-setting $17 million recently given to Kirill Kaprizov and even less than teammate Leon Draisaitl’s $14 million AAV. But McDavid’s reasoning behind the deal says everything about where his focus truly lies. Speaking with The Athletic, Connor McDavid offered a candid look into Edmonton’s roster situation, saying, “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 pro