Oilers GM Stan Bowman makes emphatic statement on Draisaitl contract
In a new sit down interview with Bob Stauffer, new Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman made some emphatic comments on the contracts for Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.
Bowman guaranteed that both Oilers stars will remain with the team, and the team has no reservations about meeting their salary demands.
»We will keep them. . . I love paying these players because it means they've done great things.»
- Stan Bowman
- Stan Bowman
It's extremely encouraging to hear the Oilers new manager fully committed to keeping McDavid and Draisaitl, and also recognizing that these players control the negotiations. When it comes to play of their calibre, the team should be willing to pay whatever is asked to keep them on the team and happy.
However, there's also been reports surfacing that Leon Draisaitl may be willing to take a discount on his next contract to ensure the team is competitive for the long-term. According to the 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast, which has correctly broken Oilers news, Draisaitl wants to make sure other Oilers stars are willing to take discounts before he signs his contract extension.
In the interview with Stauffer, Stan Bowman continued to face questions about his scandal with the Chicago Blackhawks. Bowman reiterated his answers of working with Kyle Beach, Sheldon Kennedy, and the Respect Group to proving he's learned from his gross negligence in Chicago. For many fans, hearing Bowman repeat the same points makes his answer sound like a rehearsed statement from the PR Department - and it's still very valid to question the validity of this hire. However, he's now the GM and he has the endorsement of some important figures, and that's doesn't seem likely to change.
Hopefully the Bowman blowback won't continue to be a distraction through the year, and if even one player is asked a question about this scandal it will be too many. However, Bowman could quickly shift the news cycle with the announcement of a Draisaitl extension. If the deal is a team friendly one as well, it will be a great start for him in Edmonton.
Source: Edmonton Oilers
Sit down with Stauff and Stan Bowman
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