Matthews on McDavid contract: 'It's all about winning' for him

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews knows the Stanley Cup is the only thing that matters to Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid.

"For him, it's all about winning and setting himself up for the best opportunity to do that," Matthews said Tuesday, according to TSN's Mark Masters.

He added, "In my time around him, that's the main thing he wants to do. It's what everybody wants to do, is to win, and he's as committed as anybody."

McDavid opted not to pursue a raise from his $12.5-million annual average value and instead signed a team-friendly two-year, $25-million extension despite Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov recently inking a record eight-year contract with a $17-million cap hit. The Oilers have lost back-to-back Stanley Cups to the Florida Panthers.

"Everybody's situation is different," Matthews said. "Every team's situation is different. Cap is going up. It's tough to envision what the landscape's going to look like, but in the end, you always want to try and find a happy medium."

Matthews inked a four-year contract with a $13.25-million cap hit in August 2023, which was the highest figure in the NHL at the time. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2028, the same time that McDavid's new deal expires. Agent Judd Moldaver represents both stars.