Oilers’ McDavid now $100M man
The Edmonton Oilers paid a huge price to lock up superstar captain Connor McDavid, but it could have been even higher.
The Oilers said yesterday that the team and McDavid have agreed to an eight-year, $100 million extension. That makes the 20-year-old league MVP the highest-paid player in the NHL on an annual basis ($12.5 million per season), but it’s about $750,000 a year less than what reports last week figured he would be getting. The extension kicks in after he finishes the final year of his entrylevel deal next season.
McDavid led the NHL in scoring with 100 points last season, powering the Oilers to the Western Conference final. . . .
Alex Galchenyuk and the Montreal Canadiens avoided arbitration by agreeing to a three-year, $14.7 million contract. The 23-year-old Galchenyuk was a restricted free agent.
The American center had 17 goals and 27 assists in 61 games last season and added three assists in six playoff games. . . .
Zach Hyman signed a $10 million, four-year contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 25-yearold forward was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming season.
Hyman had 10 goals and 18 assists in 82 regular-season games last season and added a goal and three assists in six playoff games. . . .
The New York Rangers re-signed restricted freeagent forward Jesper Fast and signed free-agent center David Desharnais. Fast, who won his second straight Players’ Player Award for team play this past season, got a three-year contract worth $1.85 million annually. Desharnais received a oneyear contract worth $1 million. . . .
Goalie Reto Berra signed a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks, returning to North America less than three months after agreeing to a three-year deal with Fribourg-Gotteron in his native Switzerland’s top league.
Young to Warriors
Veteran guard Nick Young is getting a new start with Golden State, agreeing to a $5.2 million, one-year contract with the champion Warriors.
The 32-year-old Young last month declined the player option in his contract for next season with the Los Angeles Lakers that would have paid him more than $5.6 million to become a free agent. He averaged 13.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 60 games for the Lakers. . . .
Dion Waiters and the Miami Heat reportedly agreed on a four-year deal, worth a maximum of $52 million, provided all incentives are met. Waiters averaged 15.8 points in 46 games last season for the Heat. . . .
After saying he would stop playing after the Cavaliers won the NBA title in 2016 and changing his mind, Richard Jefferson said that he will be back with Cleveland next season, his 17th as a pro. The 37-year-old forward announced his plans on an episode of his “Road Trippin’” podcast.
Jefferson, who had contemplated quitting, has one guaranteed season left on his contract worth $2.5 million. He averaged 5.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 79 games last season, serving mostly as a backup for LeBron James. ...
Otto Porter Jr. has reportedly agreed to sign an offer sheet with the Brooklyn Nets, but the Washingotn Wizards plan to match the offer and keep Porter, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because contracts can’t be signed until today.
Porter finished fourth in voting for Most Improved Player last season after averaging 13.4 points and shooting 43.4 percent from 3-point range, fourth-best in the league. . . .
Former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy will lead the U.S. men’s basketball team through the early stages of qualifying for the 2019 Basketball World Cup, USA Basketball announced.
San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich will coach the Americans in the World Cup and the 2020 Olympics, should they qualify.
Cowboy in trouble
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Damien Wilson was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he was accused of backing his truck into a woman and threatening a man with a rifle during a dispute with some tailgaters.
Frisco (Texas) police said Wilson was arrested Tuesday outside of FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium during the city’s Fourth of July celebration. Police said Wilson was released from jail after posting $20,000 bond. They said the case remains under investigation. Wilson is entering his third season with the Cowboys.
Misc.: Conley passes
Former Red Sox pitcher and Celtics player Gene Conley, one of the only players in history to win championships in two major professional sports, died on Tuesday. He was 86.
Conley helped pitch the Milwaukee Braves to a World Series championship in 1957 and won three NBA titles with the Celtics. . . .
Italy’s Fabio Aru accelerated away from three-time champion Chris Froome and other top contenders on the first mountain climb of this year’s Tour de France to win Stage 5.
Froome still rode well enough up the steep ascent to the Planche des Belles Filles ski station in Champagney to take the overall race lead and its yellow jersey from teammate Geraint Thomas.