Obě kanadské legendy, se kterými je 28letý edmontonský lídr srovnáván, také ve svém prvním finále Stanley Cupu neuspěly. Gretzky s Oilers v roce 1983 v souboji s NY Islanders, pittsburský Crosby v roce 2008 s Detroitem. V obou případech ale v následující sezoně došlo na odplatu proti stejným finálovým soupeřům. A tenhle kousek se McDavidovi a spol. proti Panthers nepodařil.
„Moje zpráva pro fanoušky je, aby zůstali trpěliví a nepřestávali věřit. Prožili toho hodně, stejně jako náš tým. Ale až ten den přijde, bude to stát za to,“ neztrácí McDavid víru. „Beru to sezonu po sezoně, v té příští můžeme být zase dobří.“
Klíčové hráče pro ročník 2025-26 mají Oilers pod smlouvami. To ale neznamená, že se generální manažer Stan Bowman bude v létě nudit. Výrazně přisypat by měl 25letému obránci první pětky Evanu Bouchardovi, který hrál za 3,9 milionu dolarů ročně a nyní je chráněným volným hráčem s nárokem na arbitráž. Nová smlouva pro beka, jenž nastupoval ve vyřazovací části v průměru přes 26 minut na zápas a za poslední tři play off posbíral 72 bodů, by klidně mohla atakovat hranici 10 milionů dolarů.
A pak je před Bowmanem ještě jeden, o dost důležitější úkol. Už 1. července by mohl podle pravidel NHL podškrábnout nový kontrakt s McDavidem, jehož stomilionová smlouva vyprší po sezoně 2025-26.
„Promluvím si s agentem (Juddem Moldaverem), rodinou… A až přijde čas, rozhodnu se. Ale s ničím takovým nespěchám,“ netlačí na pilu kapitán Oilers.
V jeho případě bychom ale měli očekávat zboření rekordních hranic. Dosud nejvyšší smlouvu NHL v celkovém objemu financí si osobně vyjednal s Washingtonem Alexandr Ovečkin, když v roce 2008 podepsal 13letý kontrakt na 124 milionů dolarů. Pokud jde o průměrnou roční částku, pak je na tom aktuálně nejlíp Auston Matthews z Toronta s 13,25 milionu dolarů na sezonu. A domluvil to právě Moldaver.
Podle současných regulí může hráč prodloužit maximálně o 8 let, což loni s Oilers udělal německý kanonýr Leon Draisaitl. Uzavřel smlouvu na 112 milionů dolarů, od podzimu tak s průměrem 14 milionů na rok přeskočí Matthewse.
„S Connorem jsem o tom ještě nemluvil, ale každý tady by chtěl, aby hrál za Oilers do konce kariéry,“ prohlásil Draisaitl. Nikdo také moc nepochybuje, že příštím kontraktem se McDavid stane nejlépe placeným hráčem NHL.
V sezoně 2026-27 se má platový strop v soutěži posunout na 104 milionů dolarů a podle zákulisních zpráv si Moldaver může pro svého klienta klidně říct o 20 procent z této částky na rok (20,8 milionu).
I když jsou peníze vždycky až na prvním místě, McDavid by mohl při vyjednávání slevit, pokud se to pak projeví na složení týmu, se kterým chce vyhrát Stanley Cup. Loni byl po prohraném finále zoufalý, letos spíš vytočený. Florida měla mnohem větší hloubku kádru, i třetí lajna dokázala Edmontonu pocuchat fasádu. Zatímco elitní borci Oilers v tom byli trochu sami.
„Nejdůležitější je vítězství,“ řekl McDavid, jenž v play off dosáhl bilance 7+26. Ve své monumentální sbírce má už tři Hart Trophy (2017, 2021, 2023), čtyři Ted Lindsay Award (2017, 2018, 2021, 2023), pět Art Ross Trophy (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023), Maurice Richard Trophy (2023) i loňskou Conn Smythe Trophy. Ale chybějící Stanley Cup kanadskou superstar dráždí.
„Ten je na prvním místě seznamu. Pokud budu mít pocit, že je tu pořád dobrá šance na vítězství, pak podepsání smlouvy nebude problém. Samozřejmě musím udělat to, co je nejlepší pro mě a moji rodinu, o kterou se musím postarat. Ale taky vidím, že je tu stále nedokončená práce,“ přikývl McDavid.
A fanoušci Oilers věří, že až to vyjde, bude to stát opravdu za to.
This news was originally published on this post .
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