Connor McDavid could've demanded whatever he wanted in a new contract, and the Edmonton Oilers probably would've granted it.
But instead, the extension signed by the best hockey player on the planet on Monday is rather meager compared to expectation.
It's for an announced two years and $25 million, a $12.5 million average annual value.
It doesn't break any records. It's not even the biggest deal on his own team (Leon Draisaitl makes $14 million per year).
But for McDavid, that wasn't what he was seeking.
Why did Connor McDavid take a 2-year, lower-money contract?
This contract extension, which will take McDavid through the 2027-28 season, makes sense for a couple of reasons.
The first is the length. McDavid will be a free agent as the NHL's salary cap rises, and he'll still get a shot at the biggest contract the league has ever seen.
But in the meantime, if McDavid was going to stay with the Oilers and wait for free agency a couple years down the road, the money became an intriguing subplot.
ESPN wrote Tuesday that McDavid was expected to take a team-friendly deal, and that's certainly what he did.
McDavid has lost in the Stanley Cup Finals each of the past two seasons. If it made sense in his mind to stick around, why not give the Oilers a bit more money to work with?
If he had signed for $18 or $20 million per year, the Oilers' hands would've been very tied up by the contracts of their two star forwards.
Now, McDavid has given the Oilers the best chance he could of hoisting the Stanley Cup while he's still in Edmonton. The clock is ticking.
MORE: Full details of Connor McDavid's contract