Draisaitl's agent Jiri Poner has said that the Oilers need to prove they want to keep Draisaitl with their contract offer, and it needs to get done before the season, or it will not happen at all. He seems to indicate that if the Oilers don't pay up now, they won't negotiate through the regular season, and he'll walk to free agency. At the end of the day, he's very confident that the Oilers will retain him.
This seems to line up with Jeff Jackson's comments of the priority of hiring a GM as soon as possible to begin negotiations with Draisaitl. Jeff Jackson has made incredible signings and trades in his short time managing the Oilers, but his next big ticket item is the Draisaitl extension and keeping the core together. For that, he needs to hire a GM.
It seems like a matter of when, not if the Oilers re-sign Draisaitl. They will be prepared to make him the highest paid player in the NHL for one season, before they have to pay up to keep McDavid. If they keep the core together, this team will contend for multiple Stanley Cups, and hopefully win a few.
Source: OilerAlert on X
Draisaitl's agent speaks on contract talks
POLL | ||
JUILLET 6 | 584 ANSWERS Leon Draisaitl's Agent gives Edmonton Oilers a deadline for new contract Do you think the Oilers will re-sign Draisaitl this offseason? | ||
Yes, they'll re-sign him early | 433 | 74.1 % |
No, he'll re-sign next summer | 74 | 12.7 % |
He'll walk in free agency | 60 | 10.3 % |
See Results | 17 | 2.9 % |
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