No matter how many big free agent signings the Oilers made in free agency this year, one thing looms over the head of the whole franchise: the future of Leon Draisaitl.
He’s heading into the final year of his eight-year, $8-million AAV deal he signed back in 2017 and it goes without saying he’s due for a massive raise. Since then, he’s scored the second-most goals, the fifth-most assists and the second-most points over that time, and become one of the most clutch playoff performers in NHL history.
Earlier this week, one of Draisaitl’s agents, Jiri Poner, spoke with German outlet Eishockey NEWS, where he said “very confident that there will be an agreement with Edmonton in the end that both sides will be happy with.”
Poner indicated they’re looking to get a deal done “by the end of August,” which would indicate “whether Edmonton really wants him or not.”
“We have our ideas,” he said. “But the ball is in Edmonton’s court.”
Draisaitl is rightly due a significant raise. Evolving-Hockey projects his extension to come in at eight years and $13.5-million annually, which would be about $1-million more than his projected value over the length of the deal, according to The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn. He notes, and rightly so, that Draisaitl is more than due his own when it comes to his next contract, and his performances in the playoffs balance things out.
Poner agrees.
“I can still remember the shitstorm Peter Chiarelli had to endure when he gave Leon the contract for $8.5 million a year,” he said, adding “(Draisaitl) has been playing at least 30 percent below his value for three years. But that’s not a complaint.”
A 30 percent increase means Draisaitl’s camp has felt he’s been worth around $11-million, a number that honestly might even be low. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported back in June Draisaitl’s camp and the Oilers had begun contract negotiations, predicting a $14-million per-year deal.
Rumours — founded or not — of Edmonton trading Draisaitl don’t appear to be of concern to Poner.
“There will always be rumors (sic) until Leon signs,” he said. “There are two important points.
“Firstly: What would a club be willing to give up for a short-term deal? Leon would then be a free agent again and the club would lose far too much. And secondly: What would Connor McDavid do a year later when his contract expires and Edmonton has already given up its best friend?”
Last week, Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations Jeff Jackson said that he wanted a general manager in place before getting into the thick of contract negotiations.
“I think it’s critically important the general manager is in place before we get into the meat of that discussion, because I’m sure for Leon and his representatives, (they want to know) what the vision is, who the GM is, all of those sorts of things,” Jackson said. “It’s a big move and it’s a commitment from Leon.
“I think obviously, he knows me and the way I operate, and I think we’ll have a very good general manager in place. I’m assuming they’re going to want to wait and know who that is before we get into it.”
Jackson also expressed confidence in a deal getting done.
“Obviously it’s of critical importance to us — and if we don’t have something done by July 15th, we’ll keep working on it,” he said. “We’ve got a year to work on it. We want to keep this group together, and it’s a priority to do that with Leon. I don’t feel like a date here the next two, three days, July 1st or anything like that, where we have to do something or we’re putting ourselves in perril. I just don’t feel like that.”
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
