Speculation: Which teams would realistically be able and willing to sign Draisaitl if he didn't sign in Edmonton?

[CanadienShark]

Every team would find a way.

Mods do your job

Instead of bumping this thread, if you have an issue with it you could simply report it. Let them decide for themselves if this is worthwhile discussion.

 

[5 14 6 1]

Max is 18.5M when he’s a UFA, there will be teams lining up to give him like 17, there is no way he will get only 13.25M lol

Max is 18.5M when he’s a UFA, there will be teams lining up to give him like 17, there is no way he will get only 13.25M lol

We shall see

 

[John Mandalorian]

Detroit seems like the most likely destination.

 

[TheBigLetowski]

when has dundon ever paid a top 5 league salary? would he? no. never.

When has he needed to?

 

[McSuper]

Leon isn't going to a mid of the pack team. Also if he doesn't sign in Edmonton he will be traded. I am also sure if he is traded it will be a team he would be will to sign with so Edmonton gets a max return.

Montreal has everything needed to make this happen

Except a contending team.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Detroit should throw the kitchen sink at this. He is also very close with Seider.

 

[CanMerc]

Would love him in WPG…but would never happen

 

[93gilmour93]

Toronto if Marner walks.
They have 22 million coming off the cap next year

That's McDavid's money the following year. No room for Leon

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

I guess looking at the currently trajectory of teams in the league, Montreal could catch their stride when the current top teams are declining. Maybe a contending status isn’t as outlandish as I first thought but I would still be apprehensive.

The Atlantic is going to see a shift in the next couple years. TB/BOS and even FLA should take a step back. They’ve all lost significant pieces and are getting older. We’ll be contending with OTT/BUF/DET over the next few years

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

As it stands, Montreal has $26,937,500 in projected cap space next year, plus $10.5 million in LTIR space, and can open up more if necessary with more palatable buyouts of Gallagher and Anderson. The only major RFA that needs to be signed would be Guhle, and UFA Matheson and RFAs Dach and Hutson the following year. They will have their forward lines bolstered by Demidov on an ELC, looking to have a solid top 6 of Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Dach, Demidov, or a possible trade/UFA candidate should Demidov not be ready for top 6 minutes.

The outlook will be bright, we have a player's coach. 1st class facilities, and he's already shown he's amenable to the Canadian environment. I obviously don't know what he values, but I wouldn't sleep on Montreal making a serious pitch and being serious contenders. Like I mean if he'll play in the hellhole that is Edmonton, anywhere else would be an improvement, right?

Agreed with this . The one element about Drai that I wonder in Montreal is the media. He’s known for being short/confrontational with journalists. I personally don’t mind an athlete calling out dumb questions, but he’ll have a field day here with the likes of Lavoie etc haha

Hate to break it to you. Bedard won't be as good as Drai ever

Bédard will benefit from afraid shadow hehe. With Drai doing all the heavy lifting, Bédard can do what he does best. Offence

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I would think the Flyers will be all in and will throw a massive offer his way. The Flyers haven't landed a big time free agent since Briere way back in the summer of 2007.

Draisaitl with Michkov could be a blast.

You forgetting someone?

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

Montreal has everything needed to make this happen

Except the philosophy of paying max dollar. Internal cap( regards to NS salary) we’ll never be in the realm of bidding for his services unfortunately

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Except the philosophy of paying max dollar. Internal cap( regards to NS salary) we’ll never be in the realm of bidding for his services unfortunately

There’s no indication that this is true actually

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

There’s no indication that this is true actually

So far the contracts indicate it. I also believe KH had gone on record in his first year saying something to the effects that he didn’t wanna pay over the top on free agency… I don’t have a link. Just a memory of it

 

[Sasha Orlov]

So far the contracts indicate it. I also believe KH had gone on record in his first year saying something to the effects that he didn’t wanna pay over the top on free agency… I don’t have a link. Just a memory of it

Suzuki, Caufield and Slaf are not comparable to Leon Draisaitl in any way so I don’t think that’s the ceiling

 

[M2Beezy]

I can see Vancouver being a good destination for him, just gotta shuffle some money around..

Pettersson Miller Brock Boeser
Debrusk Draisatl Hoglander
Joshua Suter Garland
Heinen Blueger Sherwood
Aman

 

[Axel Sandy Pelikan]

Probably 28-30. Florida will have their own stuff to deal with... Colorado is in some deep cap shit... Teams like Dallas are usually pretty tight up against the cap... but honestly, there is not a team in the league that would be worse for dealing away a top piece and signing Draisaitl

 

[DavidHasselhoffsFist]

The Edmonton Oilers?!

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

Suzuki, Caufield and Slaf are not comparable to Leon Draisaitl in any way so I don’t think that’s the ceiling

There’s no way Hugo will pay TWICE the salary of their top line guys. This isn’t Toronto and Hughes isn’t Dubas.

 

[Heldig]

UTAH could make a big splash and acquire the muchly needed 1C.

 

[Wallet Inspector]

He will come to Ottawa to play next to his fellow German, Tim Stutzle.

 

[Funk21]

Let one massively overpaid forward walk then use that space to add another massively overpaid forward..

Well if Marner wants more than his current contract and this guy has done this and just wants 14 per I’d do it all day long. Plus Drai shows up in the playoffs when he isn’t hurt.

2023-24	$8.50M	NHL	Edmonton Oilers	81	41	65	106	76		1,252	59.50	59.00	2.90	55.70	0.70	0.72	2.64
2022-23	$8.50M	NHL	Edmonton Oilers	80	52	76	128	24		1,268	51.40	54.30		52.10	-0.30	0.80	2.41
2021-22	$8.50M	NHL	Edmonton Oilers	80	55	55	110	40		1,286	54.00	50.10	-3.10	50.50	-3.10	1.21	2.52
2020-21	$8.50M	NHL	Edmonton Oilers	56	31	53	84	22		902	63.20	51.00	1.50	50.60	3.10	0.86	2.66
2019-20	$8.50M	NHL	Edmonton Oilers	71	43	67	110	18

 

[Sasha Orlov]

There’s no way Hugo will pay TWICE the salary of their top line guys. This isn’t Toronto and Hughes isn’t Dubas.

He should

 

[trellaine201]

How much money will he command? Top five paid in the NHL? top 10? Nevermind looks like around $14M per

 

[Axel Sandy Pelikan]

How much money will he command? Top five paid in the NHL? top 10? Nevermind looks like around $14M per

He's gonna command the biggest check you can write. He might take 14 if he's generous, but they're anticipating that the cap is gonna boom. So, his agent is not gonna be apt to take a cut. There is a reason why it seemed contracts were huge this FA period.