The Edmonton Oilers have to sign a few restricted free agents, but the biggest to address is Leon Draisaitl.
Edmonton is set on re-signing the German winger, who had an outstanding year playing alongside Connor McDavid. Not only is Peter Chiarelli ready to match any offer sheet, but he is more than confident that the deal will get done.
Edmonton Oilers
However, with McDavid also set to sign an extension, one that is reportedly worth $13.25 a year, many are curious as to how much Draisaitl gets. Signing both of them is imperative for the future, but both could take up a significant amount of cap space. That, of course, would lead to salary issues in the future.
So, in the end, the biggest question remains: how much does Draisaitl sign for?
First off, he deserves a long-term extension and a hefty salary. Not only did Draisaitl register 29 goals and 77 points this past season, but he was a huge part of McDavid’s point totals. Many would argue that McDavid makes any player that plays with him better; however, Draisaitl is elite as well and has proven ability to carry his own line.
This can be seen by his playoff run; he spent time on his own line and with McDavid, and had an outstanding campaign. In fact, he was probably the Oilers’ top player in the postseason. Through 13 playoff games, Draisaitl scored six goals and 16 points and was a plus-8. He also recorded 21 hits, all while leading his team in scoring through the team’s first playoff run in over 10 years.
Salary Situation
So, all in all, the German winger is going to get paid. However, I can not see him making over $9 million per year. First off, the 21-year-old is just getting his start in the NHL and doesn’t have multiple high-scoring campaigns under his belt.
If he were to get at least $9 million per year, he would be making just as much as Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and other players who have multiple high-scoring, consistent years under their belt. Draisaitl has a lot of promise, but he has just one 70-point season to show. While he deserves this money in years’ time, it is not something he will make right away.
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A solid comparison contract is an eight-year extension that Washington Capitals centre Evgeny Kuznetsov signed. The Russian just finished his third full season with the Capitals, racking up 19 goals and 59 points. The year before this one, he scored 20 goals and 77 points. Only 25, he will make $7.8 million per year.
That is a good comparison, as are the recent deals that Vladamir Tarasenko and company just signed. Draisaitl is signing his second ever NHL contract and has yet to join the ranks of Crosby and that group of elite players. In turn, Draisaitl should make less than $9 million per year, but no more than that.
Bottom Line
Draisaitl is a promising player who will certainly join the ranks of the NHL’s elite at the rate he’s going. However, right now, his contract cannot be seen as a comparable for those such as Crosby and Ovechkin. He is still on the rise, and should not be making more than $9 million per season. At least not yet.
However, Edmonton needs to get a deal done soon and needs to take control of signing him to a deal somewhere between $7-8 million AAV. If they wait, another team with cap room could make him an offer sheet that is for something like $9 million per year, and the Oilers would be forced to match it.
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Still, the conversations are ongoing, and Chiarelli said he is confident that the deals will get done, so there is no reason to worry. However, how much Draisaitl makes is still a mystery.