had a hard time picturing himself playing in the NHL wearing anything but an Edmonton Oilers jersey, and the result of that is a long-term commitment to the organization's pursuit of the Stanley Cup as the highest-paid player in hockey.
Draisaitl on Tuesday signed an eight-year extension worth $112 million, a deal that gives the top salary cap hit in NHL history at $14 million. The new contract, the second richest in total dollars in league history, begins with the 2025-26 season and runs through 2033.
鈥淔or me, it was always the Oilers,鈥� Draisaitl said on a video call with reporters. "Obviously we haven鈥檛 gotten the job done yet, which makes it to me even more special. We鈥檙e going to do this together. We鈥檙e all pulling on the same rope here. I鈥檓 excited to be a part of it and excited to keep chipping away at the ultimate goal, and we all know what that is.鈥�
Draisaitl's landmark deal got done a little over two months since he, Connor McDavid and their teammates nearly pulled off a historic comeback in the Stanley Cup final, erasing a 3-0 series deficit before in Game 7. Draisaitl had 31 points in 25 games on that run.
He could have become a free agent next summer. Avoiding that and getting him signed to a long-term contract was the organization's top offseason priority.
鈥淧layers like Leon are special: There鈥檚 not many people in the world that can play hockey like he does," said general manager Stan Bowman, who . 鈥淭here鈥檚 no way we could ever replace what Leon brings to the table. He鈥檚 a huge part of our team, he has been and he will continue to be.鈥�
Draisaitl surpasses Auston Matthews鈥� $13.25 million cap hit with this new contract, which nearly doubles his salary. The 28-year-old Draisaitl is making $8.5 million on average on his current contract, which was signed in 2017 and became one of the most team-friendly in the league.
The contract trails only the $124 million over 13 years Alex Ovechkin signed for back in 2008 as the biggest the NHL has seen. It comes with the salary cap expected to increase again in '25-26, likely over $90 million or more, as to record levels.
鈥淐ertainly there鈥檚 going to be challenges in the future, but that鈥檚 for us to figure out down the road,鈥� Bowman said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l figure the other stuff out down the road, but for now we鈥檙e just thrilled that he鈥檚 with us.鈥�
.The big forward from Cologne has been worth every penny along the way, putting up 850 points in 719 regular-season games since making his NHL debut and being one of the top producers in playoff history with 108 in 74. Draisaitl's 1.46 points a game rank fourth all time among players with 40-plus games in the postseason, behind Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux and McDavid.
Draisaitl said he talked to McDavid, with whom he has become close friends, throughout the process before signing.
鈥淚 did what I thought was best for me personally. Do I hope that Connor follows along? I鈥檇 be lying if I said no,鈥� Draisaitl said. 鈥淥f course I want him to stay on board.鈥�
for leading all scorers with 42 points and three times has taken home the Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP. Edmonton's face of the franchise is eligible to sign a contract extension of his own July 1, which is expected to include McDavid getting a raise from his $12.5 million annual salary now that Draisaitl has gotten his new deal.
鈥淥bviously, it shows that we want to win,鈥� Bowman said when asked how this contract might affect talks with McDavid and his camp. 鈥淲e want to win and we鈥檙e going to do everything in our power and hopefully that鈥檚 going to be something that Connor likes to hear. But the negotiation itself, it may be different or it may not be. It may be very similar. I don鈥檛 know. But I鈥檓 looking forward to having that conversation.鈥�
___
AP NHL:
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
