AS I understand it 8 years can be given by the team if they already have him... Including if you trade for their rights from the prior team when UFA or RFA... Though if you sign a free agent it can only be for 7 years, not sure about offer sheets... Think can do a 7 year offer sheet, don't know if the prior team can match that or try to counter with an 8 year one. I think they might play hardball with McDavid, give him a few years to keep him at RFA even after the term. Otherwise Stamkos/Crosby make under 9M in cap hit, so don't think they will make mistake Kings did having Kopitar get 10M or Chicago having 10.5 hits for Kane and Toews. Maybe 64M over 8 years or like 3 years 21M then if does well get 8-9M cap hit over 8 years on next contract. Not sure if they will play around with bonuses or anything tricky like that.