[Speculation] Oilers’ Open Extension Negotiations With Leon Draisaitl

[RWJC]

Oilers’ Open Extension Negotiations With Leon Draisaitl

 

June 15th, 2024 at 4:35pm CST • By Gabriel Foley

 

The Edmonton Oilers have a stressful summer ahead, with 12 pending free agents currently a part of their Stanley Cup run and just $10MM in projected cap space. That’s enough of a headache – but to add to it, the team will have to keep in mind the major paychecks due to their superstars over the next two summers.

 

Both Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard will need new deals in 2025, while Connor McDavid will challenge contract records once again in 2026. Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff recently joined Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer to discuss the looming payday, projecting that the trio of stars will cost a total of $40MM when all is said and done.

 

Seravalli broke that down to $16MM going to McDavid, $14MM going to Draisaitl, and $10MM going to Bouchard.

 

Seravalli went on to discuss Draisaitl’s looming negotiations in-depth, sharing that the star German forward is interested in signing a long-term deal near the league maximum – as opposed to a short-term and relatively cheaper deal like Auston Matthews‘ four-year, $53MM contract. At 28, a long-term deal would take Draisaitl through the majority of his remaining career and cement his place as career batterymate of McDavid.

 

Seravalli believes the Oilers have already opened discussions of an extension with Draisaitl’s camp, as they look to both lock up their core and chip into their looming bills as quickly as possible.

 

Should these projections hold true, the Oilers would need to ensure they had $24MM to go to Draisaitl and Bouchard next summer. The league salary cap is projected to reach $92MM ahead of the 2025-26 season, per CapFriendly, after seeing a record-tying $4.5MM increase to $88MM this summer. Another increase would go a long way toward helping Edmonton’s budgeting.

 

The Oilers don’t have many players entering free agency in 2025, and get a bit of a boost by Cody Ceci‘s $3.25MM cap hit coming off the books, but they’ll again have to look towards the future, with Evander Kane, Stuart Skinner, Mattias Ekholm, and Brett Kulak set to join McDavid in 2026’s free agency class.

 

Edmonton boasts an exciting opportunity to lock in three franchise cornerstones as career Oilers. It’s hard to argue a case against any of them – the trio currently leads Edmonton in postseason scoring and would likely compete for the Conn Smythe Trophy should Edmonton turn the series around. Bouchard’s emergence as a true top defenseman, capable of playing upwards of 25 minutes a night, has propelled Edmonton into a team capable of being carried by their star talent, while Draisaitl has emerged as one of the few players in the NHL capable of rivaling McDavid’s scoring.

 

The Oilers seem plenty aware of those accolades and are now taking the first steps towards securing their future by kicking off contract talks with Draisaitl.

 

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/06/oilers-open-extension-negotiations-with-leon-draisaitl.html#ref=home

 

 

Edited June 15, 2024 by RWJC

[cripplereh]

They should trade Leon.

 

They could get a boat load.

 

Two good players,couple A prospects,three first.

 

Then flip a first get another sold D or goalie.

 

 

Free agency get the other either goalie or D.

 

Fill out the roster and actually win a cup,if not they are doomed to stay as is.

Edited June 15, 2024 by cripplereh

[Nucker67]

0 goals in the Finals. Sure, give them all a raise 

[Herberts Vasiljevs]

Lol, I love the Oilers. 

[Bob Long]

Trade him for some schnitzel and a ticket to Octoberfest.

[Snoop Hogg]

Whether Draisaitl gets the extension or is moved, their window is closing. The contract will cripple them or the assets they receive will be picks/young players who need time to develop. 

[RJCF96]

If Draisaitl leaves as a UFA and signs with the Rangers, then he is an immediate threat to be the next Mark Messier and we must prevent that from happening at all costs.

[Canuckpuckluck1]

That Nurse contract is such an amazing deal for the Oilers!!!

 

It brings a huge smile to my face....

Oh and I forgot the Jack Campbell contract...thats another winner!

Edited June 15, 2024 by Canuckpuckluck1
added extra info

[Ghostsof1915]

8 minutes ago, Bob Long said:

Trade him for some schnitzel and a ticket to Octoberfest.

How much Pilsner can you get for him?

[Bob Long]

Just now, Ghostsof1915 said:

How much Pilsner can you get for him?

 

Depends on how many ham hocks you got.

[EB43]

He’ll probably start negotiations by diving and pretending to be hurt.

[Nucker67]

I would love it if Drasaitl said, "no thanks" and signed in the east. 

[Canuck You]

This was pretty much their chance to get the cup..Things are going to go down hill for them like it did for us after 2011-2012.

[Snoop Hogg]

13 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

How much Pilsner can you get for him?

Not much, but plenty of soiled lederhosen.

[Snoop Hogg]

10 minutes ago, EB43 said:

He’ll probably start negotiations by diving and pretending to be hurt.

Yeah, I can see him getting offered 13 million a year and he snaps his back, like he’d been shot in the face.

[Guntrix]

Am I the only one who's not totally convinced on Bouchard. 10M is a lot for him.

[Snoop Hogg]

2 minutes ago, Guntrix said:

Am I the only one who's not totally convinced on Bouchard. 10M is a lot for him.

Ask King Heffy

[Warhippy]

Bouchard Dry Saddle and McJesus making a combined $40 million in total team cap guarantees the team will never see a cup with them.

 

Shame that there's so little interest in actual winning or team loyalty anymore among players.

 

I still think player agents are the biggest cancer to the league not named bettman 

[Gurn]

Every single player should always do what is best for them and their families.

Teams don't give a crap about the players-just the product, and revenue stream

loyalty has gone out the window- heck teams now ask players to waive NTC protection.

Where is the loyalty?

Edited June 15, 2024 by Gurn

[Reg]

Draisaitl would be an idiot not to explore the market as a free agent. Let me re-phrase that, he would be dumber than he looks if he doesn't see what other teams will offer for his services. 

[HKSR]

1 hour ago, Canuckpuckluck1 said:

That Nurse contract is such an amazing deal for the Oilers!!!

 

It brings a huge smile to my face....

Oh and I forgot the Jack Campbell contract...thats another winner!

I honestly think that Nurse contract has cost them a Cup.

[Devron]

Sure, sign him for max and Mcdavid can walk. Works for me lol 

[Joe King]

It used to be they played for the love of the game. This no longer applies. Fans cheer and support their teams and pay in the hope of a cup. Most of the off season is talk about the strain on the budget to try to hold a team together. To pay so and  so you need to trade away other good players and bring in AHL players to fill out the roster. Most of these guys are already rolling in the dough. Add in the tax differences. Round round we go.

I guess what I'm trying to say it's less and less about hockey and more about math.

I really don't find math all that exciting.

[Devron]

22 minutes ago, Reg said:

Draisaitl would be an idiot not to explore the market as a free agent. Let me re-phrase that, he would be dumber than he looks if he doesn't see what other teams will offer for his services. 

He does look pretty dumb 

[The Arrogant Worms]

5 minutes ago, Joe King said:

It used to be they played for the love of the game. This no longer applies. Fans cheer and support their teams and pay in the hope of a cup. Most of the off season is talk about the strain on the budget to try to hold a team together. To pay so and  so you need to trade away other good players and bring in AHL players to fill out the roster. Most of these guys are already rolling in the dough. Add in the tax differences. Round round we go.

I guess what I'm trying to say it's less and less about hockey and more about math.

I really don't find math all that exciting.

They played for the love of the game and got screwed by the owners like Gordie Howe..