Yaremchuck started that nonsense on Oilers nation months ago thinking it was a brilliant idea , for Drai to get the most out of the next 8 years and it's a completely stupid number 1 as I have posted before I'm sure Klefbom was quite happy signing long term after his injury, other like Savard and Weber and others . Number 2 Drais numbers could easily start dropping after 4 years as he would be 34 looking for a new contract
I don't think anyone really knows. The advantage for Drai doing a 4 year deal could be getting another 8 year deal on his next contract. It likely wouldn't be as high AAV as this contract, even with the inflation, due to age, but it wouldn't shock me if he wants this next 4 years to be his competitive years, winning cups while getting highly paid, and then getting a retirement contract of 8 years where he can still make good money, still hopefully compete, while his role on his team gradually decreases until he can find a way to go on LTIR at the end of his contract.. I think he would have signed if it was as simple as doing $14M X 8 years, so there's probably something somewhere that he is haggling on. I wouldn't blame him for wanting that $14M number too, to be the highest paid in the league for a year until Connor re-signs.
14 X 8 = 112M
OR
14M X 4 = 56 M
9M AAV X 8 years = 72M, strucutured to pay out higher at the start at 12, 12, 12, 10, 8, 6, 6, 6
Total $128M
There are benefits to doing a 4 and hoping he can sign a retirement contract that is 8 years long. It all depends on if he wants the secure amount, or is wanting to gamble on himself still being healthy and contributing after this next contract is up.