Connor McDavid was unwavering in his commitment to stay with the Edmonton Oilers for the long haul.

That was the message delivered by general manager Peter Chiarelli upon announcing the eight-year, $100-million contract extension signed by the NHL's reigning MVP and high-scorer, a deal that will keep him in Edmonton for the next nine seasons.

At the same time, however, it's clear McDavid didn't push for the maximum possible value on the deal, allowing Chiarelli a better chance to build a winning team around the superstar captain.

"I compare this magnitude of contract to a partnership," Chiarelli said at a press conference Wednesday. "In order for a partnership to work, both sides have to benefit. They have to share in the success together. Conversely, they have to share in the challenges together also.

"This may be one of the largest contracts ever given in the NHL, but I assure you, it easily could have been a lot higher in value and shorter in term. Building a team to win the Stanley Cup was a constant discussion point in this negotiation."

In an ensuing interview with Sportsnet's Gene Principe, McDavid stopped short of saying he left money on the table, but he did echo Chiarelli's desire to win.

"It's hard to say you can make more than $100 million, that's a lot of money. Ultimately, you want to have a good team, you want to be competitive, and you want to make sure that there is a little bit of wiggle room.

"Could there have been a chance to take ... whatever, it doesn't matter how we got here. It's important that we have a good team and I think we'll be able to do that."

Theoretically, McDavid could have commanded $15 million per season on his new deal, as the maximum allowable salary cap hit is 20% of the ceiling, currently set at $75 million. A report on June 28 suggested McDavid was set to sign an eight-year deal in the ballpark of $13.25 million per season, meaning his actual contract came in at $750,000 under that number on an annual basis.

In the end, it's a deal both sides are happy with, and even more so if a Cup or two is won over the next nine years.

Next up on Chiarelli's to-do list is a contract extension for restricted free agent Leon Draisaitl, which also won't come cheap.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres announced they have hired Davis Payne as an associate coach to serve under bench boss Phil Housley.

The 46-year-old Payne spent the past five seasons in an associate role with the Los Angeles Kings, and previously served as head coach of the St. Louis Blues for parts of three seasons, leading them to a 67-55-15 record between the 2009-10 and 2011-12 campaigns.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid is the $100-million man.

The Edmonton Oilers captain put pen to paper on an eight-year extension with the club Wednesday on a deal set to kick in for the 2018-19 season.

The new contract will see McDavid soon lay claim to the NHL's highest salary cap hit, a title currently held by Chicago's Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, and, most recently, Montreal netminder Carey Price, all of whom carry a $10.5-million AAV.

News of McDavid's new mega deal, and its potential impacts, wasn't lost on social media:

The fact that McDavid's extension came in a shade lower than the previously reported $13.25-million figure was also picked up on by puckheads:

The question is now how the deal will impact players around the league, particularly McDavid's teammate Leon Draisaitl:

No doubt McDavid's extension will also come up when the Buffalo Sabres sit down with Jack Eichel, who was drafted second to McDavid in 2015:

McDavid wrapped his second season with the Oilers with 100 points in 82 games, a campaign which saw him take home the Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Trophy, and the Ted Lindsay Award.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brent Burns and Joe Thornton had their turn to get naked, now the U.S. Women's national hockey team is baring it all for ESPN's Body Issue.

The team has made plenty of hockey-related headlines in the last few months.

First, for launching - and, eventually winning - a highly publicized boycott with USA Hockey over fair wages, and then taking home gold at the world championships in April.

The American women made headlines once again Wednesday, this time by posing nude for the popular ESPN magazine issue.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers signed center Connor McDavid to an eight-year, $100-million contract extension Wednesday, the club announced.

McDavid's deal carries an annual average of $12.5 million, and will take effect for the 2018-19 season.

Signing McDavid to a long-term deal is obviously a huge win for the Oilers and their front office, as McDavid is arguably the best player on the planet with his most productive years still in front of him.

Over the last two campaigns and 127 regular-season games, McDavid has registered 46 goals and 102 assists to go along with the Hart and Art Ross Trophies he won this year.

McDavid's deal puts him in a tie for the fourth highest-paid player in NHL history.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrei Markov shouldn't pack his bags for Philadelphia just yet.

Amid speculation the longtime Montreal Canadiens blue-liner could be headed to Pennsylvania, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall poured cold water on that talk Wednesday.

"Don't believe everything you read," Hextall told John Boruk of CSNPhilly.com.

Markov, 38, has spent his entire career with the Canadiens, but became an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Reports indicate Markov desires a two-year extension to stay in Montreal. However, talks between the two sides stalled as free agency opened Saturday. A day later, Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin noted it would be "impossible" for the club to retain both Markov and fellow free-agent forward Alexander Radulov at their current demands.

On Monday, Radulov inked a five-year deal with the Dallas Stars. His move to Texas could potentially open the door for Markov to return to Montreal.

Markov appeared in 62 games with the Canadiens last season, recording six goals and 30 assists.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers have signed forward Jesper Fast to a three-year extension that carries a $1.85-million cap hit, the team announced Wednesday.

Fast appeared in 68 games with the Rangers last season, registering six goals and 15 assists. He added another six points in 12 playoff contests.

Fast, 25, was a sixth-round pick by the Rangers in 2010. The Swedish winger will play a bottom-six role for New York next season.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eeli Tolvanen is headed home.

The Finnish forward has agreed to a one-year contract with Jokerit Helsinki of the KHL, the team announced Wednesday. The deal also carries an option for the 2018-19 season.

Tolvanen was selected in the first round by the Nashville Predators in this year's draft, 30th overall. He spent last season with the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers, recording 30 goals and 24 assists in 52 games.

Tolvanen was originally committed to Boston College for 2017-18, before it was reported in late June that he did not meet the school's admission requirements.

His NCAA ineligibility for next season not only pushed Tolvanen toward the KHL, but also saw the highly touted prospect fall in the draft. Tolvanen's final ranking by ISS Hockey was 17th overall, while he placed eighth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Tolvanen has yet to sign an entry-level contract with the Predators.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko elected for salary arbitration Wednesday, the team announced.

The 24-year-old rearguard registered solid offensive numbers last year for the Blues while serving in a top-four capacity for Mike Yeo's club. Parayko totaled four goals and 31 assists while throwing 188 shots on net - good for 11th most by a defenseman last season.

Parayko became a restricted free agent July 1, with his expiring deal carrying an annual average value of $925,000.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.