The Edmonton Oilers have initiated discussions regarding a new contract for Leon Draisaitl, though no significant updates have emerged yet. On Monday, new Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman spoke with NHL.com’s Derek Van Diest, confirming that talks with Draisaitl have commenced. This is promising news as recent speculation suggested that formal negotiations had not yet started. However, there is no immediate news on the outcome or timing of these discussions.
Bowman indicated that while the dialogue has begun, there is no urgency to finalize a deal immediately. He mentioned, “I had a good conversation (with Liut), and we’re starting things off, and the timing on that will be what it will be.” He also clarified that there were no negative developments to report at this time, but did not provide specifics about the timing or progress of the negotiations.
Draisaitl is expected to command a substantial increase in his salary, with rumors suggesting he might seek an eight-year contract valued between $13 million and $13.5 million per season. The Oilers are keen on retaining him, and Bowman expressed his intent to secure Draisaitl as a long-term part of the team. Nonetheless, considerations about the team’s salary cap and the need to manage contracts for other key players, such as Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard, as well as assembling a strong roster around these stars, are important factors.
Bowman emphasized Draisaitl’s exceptional value to the team, stating, “Leon is a super-talented player, a huge part of what we’re doing, and he has been and will be for some time, and that hasn’t changed at all.” He also highlighted the challenge of retaining star players, noting, “I think it’s really hard to find stars in the NHL, so when you have them, the goal is to keep them.”
Draisaitl’s performance has justified the investment. Since his previous long-term contract, he has consistently been a top performer, frequently surpassing 100 points in a season and excelling in the playoffs, even when not fully fit. In the Oilers’ 2023-24 Stanley Cup Final run, he scored 10 goals and 31 points in 25 games, adding to his impressive playoff stats from the previous year where he scored 13 goals in 12 games.
With 850 points in 719 regular-season games and 108 points in 74 playoff matches, Draisaitl’s contributions to the Oilers are clear and significant.
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