Good news on the horizon for the Oilers despite Stanley Cup Final woes

These are undoubtedly tough times for the Edmonton Oilers, who at this point need a miracle. Only one team has every come back from a three-game deficit in the Stanley Cup Final, and that was the Toronto Maple Leafs way back in 1942.

As we wrote earlier, if there's one team capable of performing the near impossible and exploding for four consecutive wins, it's the Oilers. However, the stark reality is this is more than unlikely to happen, not that we'd have any problem with being wrong. (Especially as we previously predicted there would be no four-game sweep in this year's final.)

Of course losing the Stanley Cup Final would be a devastating blow to the Oilers organisation and their passionate fan base. However, there may well be some pending news which might go a long way towards easing the pain, if not outright completely eradicating it.

The Oilers are going to do WHAT?!?!

Consider the claim, that the Oilers will re-sign Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard to long-term deals. And it will apparently be done for the combined total of $40 million per season.

This claim has come courtesy of Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff, who is considered one of the top NHL insiders in the hockey media. As per the excellent David Staples of the Edmonton Journal, he made his bold comments during an appearance on 630 CHED, with Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer.

If true, this would of course be excellent news for everyone connected to the Oilers, going some way to ensuring the team remains one of the best in the NHL for some time yet. The trio have been fantastic for the majority of this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, with McDavid leading all NHL players with 34 points, followed by Draisaitl and Bouchard tied for second place, each on 28 points.

Draisaitl and Bouchard both have one season remaining on their current deals, before becoming an unrestricted and restricted free agent respectively. Meanwhile, McDavid has two seasons remaining, before himself becoming an unrestricted free agent.

How would it work out financially?

Looking at next season specifically, as per Cap Friendly, McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard have respective cap hits of $12.5 million, $8.5 million and $3.9 million. This comes to a combined total of $24.9 million.

Stauffer was caught off-guard by Seravalli's claim, with is interesting given his close relationship with the Oilers. Particularly with the combined figure of $40 million per season, which the Oilers Now host suggested/asked would be broken down as $16 million for McDavid, $14 million for Draisaitl and $10 million for Bouchard.

Given the salary cap issues the Oilers have had this season and will continue to have in 2024-25, this does make it seem even more surprising that they would be able to get all three stars re-signed. However, Seravalli predicted the salary cap, which was $83.5 million this season and will increase to $88 million for next season, is going to be closer to $100 million when all of these new deals have kicked in.

A closer look at Draisaitl

In respect of Draisaitl specifically, he is the most interesting of the trio as arguably the one who will be hardest to re-sign. For example, as we wrote at the beginning of May, there has been speculation about him going to the Boston Bruins, where he would be able to become the main man as their first line centre.

In addition, as Stauffer pointed out to Seravalli, the 2020 Hart Memorial Trophy winner is looking for a maximum long-term deal. For example, as per NHL.com, he doesn't want to sign a contract similar to the four-year extension Auston Matthews signed with the Leafs.

However, Seravalli responded by saying that it is his understanding the Oilers have already begun contract negotiations with Draisaitl's camp. In addition, why would he want to leave Edmonton, where he gets to play with the best player in the world and someone who he apparently considers a best friend.

Ultimately, at this point there is no guarantee of how this will all pan out, but it certainly provides some hope for the Oilers fan base. It's never easy to lose a Stanley Cup Final, especially for a team with such a tremendous overall history since they entered the NHL in 1979-80. (Tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the most Stanley Cups at five, and first among all NHL teams with eight final appearances.)

However, if there can be any solace -- assuming of course this series pans out as predicted -- getting McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard all re-signed long-term would be an excellent consolation prize. It would significantly contribute towards the team remaining a contender for the foreseeable future, with a very real opportunity to return to the Stanley Cup Final.

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