Now that the Stanley Cup Playoffs are over, the Oilers are shifting focus to their offseason business, beginning with signing Leon Draisaitl.
According to a new report from Chris Johnston, the Oilers are not content with allowing Draisaitl to play out his free-agent year without an extension, and are prepared to pivot and trade him if needed.
All reports so far have indicated that Draisaitl is happy to play in Edmonton alongside his best friend and the best player in the NHL, Connor McDavid. However, the fact of the matter is that Draisaitl can now control his own destiny, and the Oilers have to manage their assets as best as possible to extend their contention window.
Draisaitl will be turning 30 around the time his next contract kicks in, and it's believed he's looking for a long term deal that would make him the highest paid player in the NHL. Johnston reports he's seeking more than $13.25M a season. For a player who's routinely put up 120+ point seasons, that's the going rate with the salary cap increasing. It'll be a steep raise from his cheap current contract of only $8.25M.
The Oilers need to do their best to re-sign Draisaitl this season, but they can't simply allow him to play out next season and potentially walk away for nothing. If a stalemate occurs between Draisaitl and the Oilers, a trade will have to be explored. For the team and fans sake it would be devastating to see, and yet entirely necessary. Hopefully, Leon wants to finish the job, with his teammates, in Edmonton.
