“Draisaitl is an Oiler for Life”: Edmonton Oilers Sign Leon Draisaitl to Record-Breaking NHL Contract…
Bob Stauffer of the Edmonton Oilers hinted at big news, saying, “Today is going to be a good day in Oil Country.” Shortly after, the Oilers announced that Leon Draisaitl had agreed to an eight-year contract worth $14 million annually.
Draisaitl and Oilers GM Stan Bowman will hold a media conference via Zoom at 11:30 AM MT, as reported by David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period.
In a press release, Bowman described the signing as a monumental moment for the Oilers. He emphasized Draisaitl’s unwavering dedication to the team, the city, and the fans, underscoring that his commitment to bringing a Stanley Cup to Edmonton drives everything he does.
This deal is now the richest in NHL history, marking a significant victory for Draisaitl. Given his elite status, the contract reflects his value accurately.
Stauffer highlighted Draisaitl’s impressive statistics since his current eight-year deal began in 2017:
– Points: 713 (2nd)
– Goals: 297 (2nd)
– PPG: 130 (1st)
– GWG: 53 (4th)
Over the last three playoff seasons:
– Points: 81 (2nd)
– Goals: 30 (T-1st)
– Assists: 51 (2nd)
– PPG: 15 (1st)
Securing Draisaitl is fantastic news for the Oilers, but it doesn’t solve their challenging salary cap situation. With the current cap limitations, Edmonton will struggle to sign other top players unless the cap increases significantly.
Bowman will need to work magic by bringing in veteran players on more affordable contracts if the Oilers hope to win the Stanley Cup in this cap-restricted environment.
Draisaitl’s new contract represents 15.9% of the NHL’s salary cap, comparable to Auston Matthews’ 15.87% cap hit on his five-year deal.
If Draisaitl had waited for free agency next summer, he likely could have secured even more money from another team.
Rumors about the signing had been circulating heavily on Monday night. The 2 Mutts Podcast speculated that Draisaitl could sign for eight years at $14 million AAV, a prediction that turned out to be accurate.
As the news spread, the hockey community quickly reacted:
– Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic: “Leon Draisaitl, one of the best players in the world, is now the league’s highest-paid player. A $900K overpay is more than fine for a player who has been one of the league’s best values over the last eight years.”
– Ryan Whitney of Spittin’ Chiclets: “Leon Draisaitl ain’t going anywhere. What a morning in Oil Country. Elliotte reporting eight years at around $14 million per year means Connor McDavid will likely remain an Oiler for life too. The parade in downtown Edmonton will be legendary.”
– Oilers fan Shauna: “Today we dance!!!”
– Stats analyst JFresh: “Leon Draisaitl, extended 8x$14M by EDM, is an elite offensive forward whose combination of dominant passing skill and finishing touch makes him one of the most impactful players in hockey.”
Some fans were ecstatic, celebrating the long-term commitment of a star player, while others expressed concerns about the contract’s size, especially as Draisaitl will be in his mid-30s when it expires. However, the consensus was that this was a fair deal for a top-five NHL player.
The deal also adds pressure on Connor McDavid’s upcoming contract negotiations. As ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski noted, the Draisaitl signing means less speculation about McDavid leaving Edmonton.
Hall of Fame writer Terry Jones emphasized that the signing of Draisaitl was always a sure thing, predicting that McDavid will follow suit.
Overall, the Draisaitl contract extension was met with widespread approval, reinforcing Edmonton’s position as a team committed to retaining its elite players.
