Leon Draisaitl had a tough time picturing himself taking part in within the NHL sporting something however an Edmonton Oilers jersey, and the results of that could be a long-term dedication to the group’s pursuit of the Stanley Cup because the highest-paid participant in hockey.
Draisaitl on Tuesday signed an eight-year extension value $112 million, a deal that provides the German star the highest wage cap hit in NHL historical past at $14 million. The brand new contract, the second richest in complete {dollars} in league historical past, begins with the 2025-26 season and runs via 2033.
“For me, it was all the time the Oilers,” Draisaitl stated on a video name with reporters. “Clearly we haven’t gotten the job accomplished but, which makes it to me much more particular. We’re going to do that collectively. We’re all pulling on the identical rope right here. I’m excited to be part of it and excited to maintain chipping away on the final aim, and everyone knows what that’s.”
Draisaitl’s landmark deal bought accomplished just a little over two months since he, Connor McDavid and their teammates almost pulled off a historic comeback within the Stanley Cup last, erasing a 3-0 sequence deficit earlier than dropping to Florida by one aim in Recreation 7. Draisaitl had 31 factors in 25 video games on that run.
He might have turn into a free agent subsequent summer time. Avoiding that and getting him signed to a long-term contract was the group’s high offseason precedence.
“Gamers like Leon are particular: There’s not many individuals on the earth that may play hockey like he does,” stated normal supervisor Stan Bowman, who was employed in late July. “There’s no approach we might ever exchange what Leon brings to the desk. He’s an enormous a part of our staff, he has been and he’ll proceed to be.”
Draisaitl surpasses Auston Matthews’ $13.25 million cap hit with this new contract, which almost doubles his wage. The 28-year-old Draisaitl is making $8.5 million on common on his present contract, which was signed in 2017 and have become one of the vital team-friendly within the league.
The contract trails solely the $124 million over 13 years Alex Ovechkin signed for again in 2008 as the largest the NHL has seen. It comes with the wage cap anticipated to extend once more in ’25-26, seemingly over $90 million or extra, as league revenues continue to grow to document ranges.
“Definitely there’s going to be challenges sooner or later, however that’s for us to determine down the street,” Bowman stated. “We’ll determine the opposite stuff out down the street, however for now we’re simply thrilled that he’s with us.”
.The large ahead from Cologne has been value each penny alongside the best way, placing up 850 factors in 719 regular-season video games since making his NHL debut and being one of many high producers in playoff historical past with 108 in 74. Draisaitl’s 1.46 factors a sport rank fourth all time amongst gamers with 40-plus video games within the postseason, behind Corridor of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux and McDavid.
Draisaitl stated he talked to McDavid, with whom he has turn into shut associates, all through the method earlier than signing.
“I did what I believed was finest for me personally. Do I hope that Connor follows alongside? I’d be mendacity if I stated no,” Draisaitl stated. “After all I would like him to remain on board.”
McDavid received the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP for main all scorers with 42 factors and 3 times has taken dwelling the Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP. Edmonton’s face of the franchise is eligible to signal a contract extension of his personal July 1, which is anticipated to incorporate McDavid getting a increase from his $12.5 million annual wage now that Draisaitl has gotten his new deal.
“Clearly, it exhibits that we wish to win,” Bowman stated when requested how this contract would possibly have an effect on talks with McDavid and his camp. “We wish to win and we’re going to do every part in our energy and hopefully that’s going to be one thing that Connor likes to listen to. However the negotiation itself, it might be completely different or it might not be. It could be very related. I don’t know. However I’m wanting ahead to having that dialog.”
___
AP NHL:
window.fbAsyncInit = function() {
FB.init({
appId : ‘870613919693099’,
xfbml : true,
version : ‘v2.9’
});
};
(function(d, s, id){
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = ”
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));