Draisaitl’s contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers, according to an NHL insider, ensures that Connor McDavid will ink a deal as well.
Leon Draisaitl has officially become the highest-paid player in the NHL, following his eight-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers. The deal, worth $14 million per year, cements Draisaitl’s commitment to the city and the Oilers. “I love nothing more but wearing that jersey and representing our city,” Draisaitl said in his media call after signing the historic contract.
As excited as Oiler fans are to have Draisaitl staying put, they are as excited about what this means for another elite-level talent on the team. This extension not only secures Draisaitl’s future in Edmonton but also paves the way for Connor McDavid, the Oilers’ captain and franchise cornerstone, to re-sign with the team.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff recently predicted that McDavid’s re-signing with the Oilers next summer is a certainty. “It’s now a 100 percent shot that Connor McDavid re-signs with the Edmonton Oilers,” Seravalli stated on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer. “There is no chance that he’s leaving. I didn’t think there was to begin with, and certainly not now with Leon Draisaitl locked up for the long term.”
Elliotte Friedman stated that Draisaitl and McDavid are cooperating in their conversations and that they would be content in Edmonton as long as the team has demonstrated that winning is their top focus.
The connection between Draisaitl and McDavid has been key to the Oilers’ recent success. Draisaitl, when asked about McDavid’s future, said, “I hope [McDavid] signs and we can be our ride or dies for a long, long time.” He added, “I did what is best for me, and I expect he will do the same for him. We have had conversations, of course, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want him to stick around for a long time.”
Leon Draisaitl hopes his #oilers extension will be followed by one for Connor McDavid next summer, but adds: "Connor's going to do what's best for him, right? That's just the way this works and it's supposed to work that way. I did what I thought was best for me personally."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 3, 2024
Seravalli predicts that the Oilers will lock up McDavid with a new deal worth $16 million per year, while also securing Evan Bouchard for $10 million per year. Friedman wouldn’t be shocked if these three players come in at a total of $40 million. He believes the Oilers will work their roster around those three.
