Confirmed Signing with Link: [EDM] F Leon Draisaitl signs extension with the Oilers (8 years, $14M AAV; begins 2025-26)

[Kimota]

 

[Frank Drebin]

Crazy how we were talking about reaching 10 million a few years back and now we’re approaching 15M. Might be time to consider a max contract at 15M more money to be allocated to lesser skilled players. Let everyone eat lol, similar to how NBA has max contracts.

nhl has always had max contracts

 

[benfranklin]

Actually underpaid in terms of % of the cap. I still think/hope Connor leaves and expands on his potential elsewhere. I think last year was a fluke year for them in the playoffs and theyll get pounded in the 2nd-3rd round again per usual. Id hate to see both waste away in Edm for their whole careers when Connor specifically will be showcased more in a larger market.

 

[BurnabyJoe7]

14 is not a steal for a player that is soon out of his prime.

He's younger than MacKinnon. You think MacKinnon will be out of his prime in 2 years?

Leon will remain in his prime past the halfway point of that contract.

Agreed the Oilers have a 2 year window right now where they can be a cup favourite. All they have to do is make the playoffs in the following years and anything can happen with their core.

They do need to manage their assets better than letting their top young guys walk due to offer sheets

 

[jackjohnson]

I mean the Canucks won the division in 2012 and 2013.... they just became epic playoff choke artists after 2011 when they got their souls crushed. We'll be fine

Well after the finals we lost Ehrhoff right off the bat then lost Hamhuis, Ballard, Torres, Lapierre, Samuelsson, Malhotra and eventually lost Kesler and then Bieksa down the road. So Canucks were not the same Canucks after the finals. Same thing is happening to this Oilers team on a smaller scale this off season but probably will lose more depth next season. Losing Deharnais, Foegelle, Ceci, Holloway and Broberg might not be significant but cumulitively it will negatively affect team depth and makes a team less competitive imo. Losing Kane and more next year will also impact them. Maybe a couple of those players is easily replaceable but when you start to lose 8 or 9 then it wont be the same team that went to finals last year even if the core stays the same.

 

[VainGretzky]

What he is not A LA King HF told me this was his plan

 

[pld459666]

They better win a Cup before either starts to decline.

 

[BurnabyJoe7]

Actually underpaid in terms of % of the cap. I still think/hope Connor leaves and expands on his potential elsewhere. I think last year was a fluke year for them in the playoffs and theyll get pounded in the 2nd-3rd round again per usual. Id hate to see both waste away in Edm for their whole careers when Connor specifically will be showcased more in a larger market.

They've lost to the eventual Cup winner every year for the past 3 years. 3 year trend but somehow last year was a fluke. Sure

 

[Slats432]

Yeah but to make the trade you've got to absorb some salary. Hughes and Demko aren't going to get it done because the Oilers don't have that extra space to make it work right now and I'm not sure it's enough alone. So, to match, you add some more on each end.

It's more about "it's a downgrade regardless of what he got in a trade" that I was using that as a quick example of anyway. Hockey isn't basketball where the team who gets the best player wins the trade.

Hughes would be nice, but I would be worried that Demko has health issues, and I am not a fan of JT Miller, so then there is that.

 

[Some Other Flame]

This also probably confirms McDavid, assuming he re-signs, gets at least 16M. Bouchard should end up somewhere around 10M.

So roughly 50M between McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, & Nurse. That'll be fun.

 

[MessierII]

Well after the finals we lost Ehrhoff right off the bat then lost Hamhuis, Ballard, Torres, Lapierre, Samuelsson, Malhotra and eventually lost Kesler and then Bieksa down the road. So Canucks were not the same Canucks after the finals. Same thing is happening to this Oilers team on a smaller scale this off season but probably will lose more depth next season. Losing Deharnais, Foegelle, Ceci, Holloway and Broberg might not be significant but cumulitively it will negatively affect team depth and makes a team less competitive imo. Losing Kane and more next year will also impact them. Maybe a couple of those players is easily replaceable but when you start to lose 8 or 9 then it wont be the same team that went to finals last year even if the core stays the same.

Our depth is better this year though. At least up front. On the back end it’s probably slightly thinner but there’s still a season to play out and a deadline.

 

[LTIR]

I mean 2 years from now isn't that long? Stan Bowman has a lot of work to do if he wants this team to be like Boston or Detroit in their heyday where they make the playoffs every year.

Nothing stopping Arvidsson, Ekholm, Brown, Janmark, Henrique from re-upping with Oilers.
Savoie, Jarventie should be NHL regulars.
Core players would be locked up (assuming McD and Bouchard extend) ..easy to find fillers

 

[ManofSteel55]

Our depth is better this year though. At least up front. On the back end it’s probably slightly thinner but there’s still a season to play out and a deadline.

This. Everyone is acting like the roster teams have in September is the roster they go into the playoffs with. That's just not how it works. Rosters change.

 

[TheNumber4]

McDavid should demand a trade to a large U.S. market so that he can be more famous. Preferably an original six team.

More famous? How does that work? The US barely cares about Hockey.

 

[thadd]

It's not a steal in any way. It's fair market value. The equivalent would've been him getting 16M on the open market next summer. Would that have been a steal?

Considering how much tax we pay in Canada, 14M is a steal.

Drai has scored a ton of goals and won a Hart trophy while making peanuts compared to his peers.

 

[LTIR]

This also probably confirms McDavid, assuming he re-signs, gets at least 16M. Bouchard should end up somewhere around 10M.

So roughly 50M between McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, & Nurse. That'll be fun.

So 66M once you add Hyman,Ekholm and Nuge. Fun indeed.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

If you compare the back pay "owed" from him outplaying his current contract vs. any perceived overpayment on this one, I think the Oilers still come out pretty far ahead.

 

[Petes2424]

This is hilarious to read. Leon and Connor are best friends. Best men in each other's weddings, wives are each other's maids of honor, etc. To think these two haven't long discussed this together is hilarious. Keep casting your wishing stones brother.

In fantasyland all your dreams come true too..

This isn’t a video game. The reality is, a whole lot changes in professional sports over a 12 month period. Just look back at the mess the Oilers were 9-10 months ago.

McDavid isn’t going down with what he feels is a sinking ship, just to play with a friend. He has legacy issues he’s thinking about, after every season now, and won’t be wearing any blinders doing so.

If after next season, he starts thinking his best chance would be somewhere else, due to not only how the season ends, but Edmonton’s very limited opportunities to improve themselves, you bet he’ll think long and hard about his future in Edmonton. He’d be doing himself a disservice not to be, as it will likely be his last best chance to either force his way out, or just leave the following summer.

Until he’s signed his extension in Edmonton, nothing is written in stone.

 

[Slats432]

This also probably confirms McDavid, assuming he re-signs, gets at least 16M. Bouchard should end up somewhere around 10M.

So roughly 50M between McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, & Nurse. That'll be fun.

Better to have the elite players rather than not have any.

 

[CanadienShark]

win

Talking about his play as an individual. He wasn't particularly great.

 

[Sniper99]

I thought Leon did himself a big disservice by not waiting until after this season plays out.

The Oilers had no choice here and Leon is now stuck playing the waiting game.. Knowing he may only be starting his new contract when the big debate begins.

He’s taking a big chance, he could find himself a 32 year old, rapidly declining player, with 7 years left in Edmonton, with no chance of ever winning a cup. With a contract nobody will touch, and McDavid celebrating his arrival in somewhere like Philly, Chicago or Detroit. Primed to continue playing for Cups well into his 30s.

Imagine the debate we will start hearing a year from now, if McDavid hasn’t signed his extension?

He doesn’t have to rush anything either. If he and Leon don’t win a Cup together in the next 2 years, McDavid can, and likely will, just walk away. Never having to make the decision Leon made today. Never waiting on anyone else.

Instead though, 12 months from now, we’ll start hearing the speculation. Should they cash-in before he just walks with no compensation, or do they take one last run together, and then McDavid will make his decision? They’ll likely choose the latter.

So McDavid will have plenty of time to choose the exact city he wants to go to. It’ll likely be a Philly, Chicago or Detroit type, after they’ve spent most of his career collecting tons of young talent, all budding and coming into their own, just as he arrives in town. Guaranteeing himself, to be playing important hockey games, late every season he remains in the league.

As for Leon? Post 30, when the legs go, they go real quickly for top heavy skaters. LD is just that. Remember his skating issues coming in. He’s not a naturally gifted skater. For every nimble, natural skater, who’s extended his career into his late 30s, there’s 50, who once they lose just a step, they’re out of the league 1-2 years later. Leon won’t be bouncing around at $14 million AAV.

In fact, ironically, one of the major reasons McDavid may decide to move to a new city, is Leon being in Edmonton, with that $14 million anchor around his neck.

skimmed through your meaningless sermon just to tell you hes not leaving. Especially for Philly or Detroit.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Does anyone know the percentage of team cap Crosby and Malkin were taking up 10 years ago?

2014-15 was the first year that both Crosby and Malkin's third contracts were against the cap. Salary cap that year was $69M. Crosby took up 12.6% (8.7/69) and Malkin 13.7% (9.5/69) of the cap.

 

[Frank Drebin]

In fantasyland all your dreams come true too..

This isn’t a video game. The reality is, a whole lot changes in professional sports over a 12 month period. Just look back at the mess the Oilers were 9-10 months ago.

McDavid isn’t going down with what he feels is a sinking ship, just to play with a friend. He has legacy issues he’s thinking about, after every season now, and won’t be wearing any blinders doing so.

If after next season, he starts thinking his best chance would be somewhere else, due to not only how the season ends, but Edmonton’s very limited opportunities to improve themselves, you bet he’ll think long and hard about his future in Edmonton. He’d be doing himself a disservice not to be, as it will likely be his last best chance to either force his way out, or just leave the following summer.

Until he’s signed his extension in Edmonton, nothing is written in stone.

He’s staying in Edmonton bud

Speaking of fantasyland

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Definitely didnt give out a homecount discount thats for sure.

Contract sounds about right though

Disagree I think that’s a slight discount for sure

 

[LOFIN]

Considering how much tax we pay in Canada, 14M is a steal.

Players might want more because Canada is a miserable place to live, but the taxes have nothing to do with it.