Other than the Mitch Marner and Sidney Crosby sagas, the most interesting story of the summer may be what the Edmonton Oilers and Leon Draisaitl agree upon on a new contract.
Draisaitl became eligible for a contract extension on July 1, and after scoring 40+ goals in the last four full-length seasons, the 28-year-old could make a good case for being the highest-paid player in the NHL, but the problem is that next July Connor McDavid will justifiably be asking to be the same.
Draisaitl’s new deal could be the first indicator of what Edmonton’s future will be. If he takes less than Auston Matthews $13.25 million AAV, then it is possible that is being done in concert with McDavid to allow the Oilers to remain competitive. Even with the increasing cap, Edmonton will be challenged if they have to play Draisaitl, McDavid more than Matthews, and defenseman Evan Bouchard more than $10 million.
The big German’s $8.5 million, eight-year deal could be the biggest bargain in the NHL and it is likely that Draisaitl will want to make up for that by hitting it big on this one. If he becomes the NHL’s highest-paid player, and the Oilers do not win the Stanley Cup next season, the odds increase of the possibility that McDavid plays out the remaining two years of his deal and walks in free agency in 2026.
If the Oilers cannot get McDavid signed next summer, will the same franchise that traded Wayne Gretzky trade the best player in the NHL again?
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