NHL’s Highest-Paid Player Is Sustaining An Oilers Cup Run

Connor McDavid is arguably the greatest hockey player in the world at the moment — and he’s putting in a herculean effort to overcome his Oilers’ deficiencies and will them toward a longer playoff run.

On Thursday, McDavid recorded a goal and two assists in Edmonton’s 4-2 victory in Los Angeles, bringing his playoff-leading points total to 12 and helping set up Saturday’s Game 7.

Despite McDavid’s overwhelming accomplishments — and record contract — Edmonton has won only a single playoff series with the 25-year-old superstar.

• Including this year, McDavid has been a Hart Trophy finalist four of his seven seasons in the NHL, winning it twice (2017, 2021).
• He’s led the league in points four times — including this season, when he set career highs across the board (123 P, 44 G, 79 A).
• In July 2017, he signed an eight-year, $100M extension — the largest contract in the NHL by AAV ($12.5M) — and will be a free agent in 2026.

McDavid isn’t completely on his own offensively. Midseason acquisition Evander Kane tied the playoff lead with his seventh goal of the round — the third-most in a series in franchise history.

But it’s the defense that could sink the Oilers’ Stanley Cup hopes — Edmonton’s 3.1 goals allowed per game ranked 18th during the regular season.

History is on the fence as to who has the edge: The Oilers are 6-4 all-time in Game 7s, including 3-1 at home — while the Kings are 7-4 and have won their last four.