Former NHLer slams Connor McDavid’s Oilers $25 million deal for putting unfair pressure on league stars

Former NHL player Colby Cohen has criticized Connor McDavid’s new contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers, saying it could make things harder for other players in the league. McDavid signed a two-year, $25 million deal that starts in the 2026–27 season, keeping his average salary at $12.5 million per year. The deal is seen as very team-friendly, but Cohen believes it creates a tough situation for players negotiating their own contracts. He shared his thoughts on The Sheet with Jeff Marek on Monday.

Colby Cohen questions how Connor McDavid’s deal affects other players

Colby Cohen said that while Connor McDavid has every right to choose the contract he wants, it sends the wrong message to the rest of the NHL. “My opinion is this contract is bad for other players,” Cohen said during the interview. “I don’t like the pressure it puts on other players now.”

“My opinion is this contract is bad for other players”

McDavid can do what’s best for him – but @ColbyCohen36 explains to @JeffMarek why taking less on this 2-year extension is bad for other players, putting them in tougher spots with GMs and fans#LetsGoOilers #TheSheet pic.twitter.com/YuLNdQUtvL

— The Sheet with Jeff Marek (@thesheethockey) October 7, 2025

Cohen explained that when top players like McDavid take less money, fans and management start expecting the same from others. He pointed out that this can lead to unfair criticism of players who want to be paid their full market value. 

He mentioned Jeremy Swayman’s contract holdout last season as an example of how quickly fans can turn against players asking for better deals.

He added, “All this does is give more leverage to those managers. It makes negotiations tougher for players.”

Connor McDavid’s contract seen as a reflection of his loyalty to Edmonton

Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman later spoke about McDavid’s deal, calling the talks “unique.” He said that when they discussed the extension, money wasn’t the main topic. “It was really about where we’re headed and how to make the team better,” Bowman said.

According to Bowman, McDavid taking a lesser deal also demonstrates his willingness to help keep the Oilers competitive. After back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals losses to the Florida Panthers, this frees up more money to go towards other players to create a better team. 

Connor McDavid’s new agreement is still in place after McDavid becomes a UFA in 2028. Many see it as a selfless move, or at least as selfless of a move as you can get, as the team thinks long term. However, to Colby Cohen, not everyone in hockey thinks like that and maybe he doesn’t have the same long term effects as they do.