If Draisaitl refuses to sign an extension this summer, Should the Oilers trade him or ride it out and go All IN one more time.

[Sparksrus3]

Draisaitl can sign an extension as early as July 1. However, if he refuses to sign an extension or talk contract until next year,

should the Oilers gamble and still go ALL IN and risk letting Drai walk for free next summer, or should they trade Drai this summer and see if they can build a more complete team around Mcdavid?

Yes

 

[archangel2]

They trade him this off season--they trade McJesus next off season. Oilers are two seasons away from a massive rebuild yet again

 

[oooooooooohCanada]

You go all in. If you lose/trade Drai McDavid isn't staying. So you have to just go all in and hope you win.

 

[nhlfan9191]

They trade him this off season--they trade McJesus next off season. Oilers are two seasons away from a massive rebuild yet again

If you get rid of Draisaitl, you’re leaning into rebuild and you may as well sell high on McDavid as well.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Drai for Marner

 

[Dhockey16]

They aren't going to get a player in a return who produces like Draisaitl does offensively. If they moved him they'd have to get back a true #1 goalie - I'm not even sure who qualifies - or a Chris Pronger caliber defenseman. Come to think of it, Pronger is exactly the kind of guy they could use

 

[SI90]

They might trade him. if they do it right, they could really set their team up build around McDavid.

 

[Mobiandi]

They won’t trade him because he only wants to sign in California

 

[Cypher]

Trade him. You can't risk losing him for nothing, that would be terrible asset management. Even if only 1 year left, should fetch a decent return.

 

[sxvnert]

Drai should sign a 1yr and team up with McDavid in 2026 to corner the free agent market.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Let him walk for nothing.

 

[Roof Daddy]

You go all in and hope you can win a cup while also possibly changing his mind. If you fall short on both counts, you should be able to still net a 2nd in trade for early negotiating rights. Not good asset management if it falls apart, but it’s worth taking another swing at winning a cup.

 

[BelovedIsles]

This is still a Cup caliber team that needs a few changes. You keep him, hope you’re competing for the Cup next year, he may then take a discount to stay
as well (for many factors).

 

[Shaman464]

Holland loves players he drafted, so Larkin for Drai straight up?

 

[Treb]

all in. you play to win cups not GM mode

That would mean trading Draisaitl and actually building a deep team. You don't often win a team with a top heavy team. That has been my opinion for years. Same with Toronto.

McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard carried the team to the SCF, but only McDavid is doing ok in it so far. It's easy to control 2-3 good skaters if the rest is just ok or worse. Or just block Draisaitl and Hyman from the net.

 

[Leafs87]

All-in

Find a goaltender that can steal a game or two, or just be consistently "ok" and they might go deep again

No shame in losing in the SCF

With their road to the finals plus the fashion they lost in. I would have a hard time saying no shame. They were pretty well gifted a SCF appearance. Toss away first round. Key injuries to the next two opponents and completely folded in the finals.

 

[Baby Pettersson]

Has there actually been any indication that Drai wants out other than baseless speculation?

 

[Realm]

The big question is whether Draisaitl will agree to an extension with the new team. And what is Edmonton getting back. They have to get back established roster players. Picks are useless.

Also, if Boston trades McAvoy & Ullmark, they should not be taking on Nurse's full salary. Edmonton should retain some where they are getting a #1 G/D back. I don't even think adding Draisaitl makes them a cup contender. What they add in offense they lose in D. Who would their #1 D be? They still have holes at winger and depth.


This shouldn't be the way to run an organization.

Tell that to the Chicago Bulls, they didn't listen and lost it all.

 

[Chips]

You have to look. You don’t have to follow through but it’s irresponsible to not see if a great deal exists.


If Drai is unwilling to sign, then he shouldn’t be offended by the team shopping him. They have to do what’s right for them


Also people here are always concerned with “winning the trade”


The Panthers showed it’s about getting the best thing you can get. Weegar is great, and you can’t use hindsight on Huberdeau in this discussion.

They traded two great players for one but it freakin worked.

Has there actually been any indication that Drai wants out other than baseless speculation?

No, but the cap structure would stay interesting if he resigned anywhere near market value.

That’s the other thing Edmonton should consider. You hope for a stellar young player on a cheap deal, but maybe settle for multiple good or rock solid guys on great deals if you can work it. Whatever you can’t get in players, try to get in other pieces to flip. Oilers cap could get weird if Bouchard also doesn’t sign a discount

 

[ijuka]

package extended Drai with Nurse and Campbell in order to try and get those contracts off the books and rebuild the team with more sensible cap considerations.

Those contracts are just about impossible to get rid of, but Draisaitl might be good enough to get that done.

 

[Bruce Granville]

Trade him for Barkov and Forsling and sign Reinhart and Montour in free agency.

 

[Reality Czech]

If they trade him McDavid would probably be irate and may even ask out himself. It'd be them basically waiving the white flag.

Respectfully disagree. If they can fill 2-3 other holes on the roster, I think it might actually make the team better overall. You need depth to win a cup and trading someone like that could help them really improve their depth. Not sure cosmetic changes will be enough to get this team over the hump but obviously it all depends on how willing he is to resign.

 

[ICanMotteBelieveIt]

Trade him.

They won't won shit. Shitty defensemen, shitty goalie, shitty prospects etc.

The only reason they're in the finals are because they got McDavid and Draisaitl and that the west sucks ass. They wouldn't made it to the finals if they played in the east.

 

[MakeTheGoalsLarger]

trade.

McDavid is young enough that they can still retool a contender for the years to come around him

 

[mr figgles]

Leafs and Oilers fans agreeing to go all in is LOL. Keep a top heavy roster and blame the goalie/coach every year!

Draisaitl makes 8.5 and is one of the best playoff performers in the league. You‘re not going to plug many holes that make up for the lost scoring at 8.5.