Oilers give McDavid eight-year extension

The Edmonton Oilers locked up superstar captain Connor McDavid on a eight-year, $100-million extension. In other NHL news, the New York Rangers signed Jesper Fast and David Desharnais.

The Edmonton Oilers paid a huge price to lock up superstar captain Connor McDavid.

But it could have been even higher.

The Oilers said Wednesday 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.

“It easily could have been a lot higher in value and shorter in term,” Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli said.

McDavid’s extension kicks in after he finishes the final year of his entry-level deal next season. If the NHL’s salary cap stays at its current level of $75 million, McDavid’s salary alone would take up 16.6 percent of the Oilers’ cap.

But any cap relief would be welcome to Edmonton. The Oilers are also working to resign Leon Draisaitl, who is a restricted free agent after finishing his entrylevel deal and due a big raise.

McDavid led the NHL in scoring with 100 points last season, en route to winning the Hart Trophy as league MVP. In just his second season he helped the Oilers transition from league doormat to a potential contender in the Western Conference.

Edmonton made the playoffs for the first time in a decade last season and advanced to the conference semifinal, where they took the Anaheim Ducks to seven games.

“I’m so excited to be able to wear the Oilers jersey for the next nine years of my life and play with some of the greatest guys that I know,” McDavid said. “I can’t wait to get back at it. I wanted to show that I’m in it for the long haul, and I want to win here.”

Drafted first overall by the Oilers in 2015, McDavid became the youngest captain in NHL history last season.

Rangers sign Desharnais, Fast

The New York Rangers have re-signed restricted free-agent 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 one-year contract worth $1 million.

The 25-year-old Fast skated in 68 games this past season, with six goals and 15 assists. The Swede finished third among Rangers forwards in hits (99) and ranked fourth among the forwards in blocked shots (44).

Fast, who is expected to be sidelined for five months after hip surgery in early June, has skated in 216 NHL games and collected 22 goals and 43 assists.

The 30-year-Desharnais gives the Rangers added depth at center behind Mika Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes.