5 NHL superstars with highest AAV contracts in 2024/25 ft. Connor McDavid

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid came within arms reach of winning a Stanley Cup last season. After he and the Oilers fought their way through the Stanley Cup Playoffs, McDavid and the Oilers came up just shy of capturing the Stanley Cup.

Now, with Leon Draisaitl's contract extension finalized, all eyes are shifting to Connor McDavid, who will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season.

While his next contract will likely see McDavid become one of, if not the single highest-paid player in the league, the star forward already finds himself ranked third on the NHL's highest AAV list.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the highest AAV contracts in the NHL heading into the 2024-25 season, featuring Connor McDavid.

Five NHL stars with the highest AAV contracts heading into the 2024-25 season ft. Connor McDavid

#5: Elias Pettersson - $11.60M

Standout center Elias Pettersson signed an eight-year extension with the Vancouver Canucks, which kicks in this season. The deal will pay the center a total of $92.8 million over eight years, with an AAV of $11.6 million according to Spotrac.

Pettersson's contract will run through the 2031-32 season, after which he will become an unrestricted free agent at the age of 34.

#4: Artemi Panarin - $11.642M

While Elias Pettersson is entering into the first year of his lucrative eight-year extension, Artemi Panarin is heading into the second-to-last year of his seven-year extension with the New York Rangers.

The seven-year deal is worth a total of $81.5 million, with an AAV of $11.642 according to Spotrac. Following the end of the 2025-26 season, Panarin will hit free agency as he approaches 35 years of age.

#3: Connor McDavid - $12.50M

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid's eight-year deal worth a total of $100 million carries an AAV of $12.5 million. The season ahead will be the second-to-last on his current deal, with the expectation being that he and the Oilers reach an agreement on an extension before he hits free agency.

So far, the current projection is a yearly salary of at least $15 million given the recent extension of Leon Draisaitl, however, only time will tell how big of a contract McDavid winds up signing.

#2: Nathan MacKinnon - $12.60M

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon is currently heading into the second year of his eight-year extension with the Colorado Avalanche. The massive deal pays the standout center a total of $100.8 million over eight years, with an AAV of $12.6 million.

By the time MacKinnon hits free agency after the 2030-31 season, he will be 35 years old, meaning his current contract is likely his last long-term deal in the league.

#1: Auston Matthews - $13.25M

When looking at the highest AAVs in the NHL, Auston Matthews stands alone. The newly-minted Toronto Maple Leafs captain is heading into the first year of a massive four-year extension worth $53 million, which carries an AAV of $13.25 million.

Given that he has been hailed as one of the most natural scorers in NHL history, by the time Matthews' current contract is up after the 2027-28 season, he will likely wind up signing another massive contract. The question, of course, is whether it will be with Toronto, or another team.