Leon Draisaitl sends the Oilers an important message regarding Connor McDavid
Leon Draisaitl is fresh off a new contract extension with the Oilers, and he wasted no time in sending an urgent message to Stan Bowman about McDavid.
The Edmonton Oilers made headlines yesterday, locking in Leon Draisaitl with an eight-year contract extension worth a stunning record $14 million per year, which was a historic deal for the organization and the league. While the news is surely exciting for Oilers fans, there are some potential drawbacks that shouldn't be overlooked, including a cautionary note from Draisaitl himself.
During the press conference following the announcement, Leon Draisaitl voiced that his new deal would set the stage for linemate Connor McDavid to sign an extension next summer, and admitted to the difficulties that could come with it.
«Do I hope Connor follows along? I'd be lying if I said no. Of course I want him to stay on board, and i want all our pieces to stay on board.»
- Leon Draisaitl
Connor McDavid, who still has two years left on his current contract, which pays $12.5 million annually, won't be free to sign a new deal with Edmonton until as early as July 1, 2025. And that could get a little messy for the Oilers, as pointed out by James Mirtle of The Athletic. He writes that the gigantic extension to Leon Draisaitl could make negotiations a bit tricky for McDavid, who is also in line for a significant raise.
- James Mirtle
The Oilers' biggest task remains finding that delicate balance between keeping their superstar tandem happy and continuing to build a competitive roster around them, and with defenseman Evan Bouchard due for a new contract in 2025-26, this is a team whose salary cap flexibility will be stretched pretty thin. This extension, as much as it was well-deserved, could limit the Edmonton Oilers' ability to sign other key players or retain current ones like Connor McDavid and Bouchard.
Insider Frank Seravalli believes Leon Draisaitl's extension all but seals the deal that Connor McDavid will be an Oiler for life. But one must also take into consideration that with so much of the salary cap tied up in just a few players, the quality of the team's depth could suffer.
- Frank Seravalli
And then there's the warning from Leon Draisaitl himself at the press conference, which is a reminder that even with big names signed, there are still many obstacles ahead for GM Stan Bowman of the Oilers.
| POLL | ||
Will the Oilers suffer with team depth due to the majority of their salary tied up between 2 or 3 players? | ||
| Yes | 227 | 87.3 % |
| No | 33 | 12.7 % |
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