Edmonton Oilers sign Leon Draisaitl to 8-year contract extension

 

Leon Draisaitl, a forward, has inked an eight-year, $112 million contract deal with the Edmonton Oilers.

For Draisaitl, who was entering the last season of his contract at a $8.5 million cap charge, the agreement will have an average yearly value of $14 million.



When the contract begins in the summer of next year, the 28-year-old will be the highest-paid player in the league, surpassing Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, whose four-year contract has an average annual salary of $13.25 million.

🔒 LEON'S LOCKED IN 🔒

The #Oilers have signed forward Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year contract extension beginning in 2025-26 with an average annual value of $14 million. pic.twitter.com/wERUyneHA7

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 3, 2024

According to Pierre LeBrun of TSN Hockey Insider, the agreement is front-loaded and has a complete eight-season no-move clause.

In 81 regular-season games, Draisaitl scored 41 goals and 106 points. In the playoffs, he added 10 goals and 31 points. But for the course of the seven-game Stanley Cup Final, he only managed three assists.

Draisaitl has five NHL All-Star selections, the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy, and the Ted Lindsay Award since Edmonton selected him third overall in the 2014 draft. In 719 NHL games, the German has 347 goals and 850 points.

“This is a historic day for the Edmonton Oilers,” general manager Stan Bowman said. “Leon’s commitment to our team, our city and Oilers fans everywhere cannot be overstated. His desire to help bring a Stanley Cup title home to Edmonton is central to everything he does both on and off the ice.”

The deal comes a month after Bowman said he had opened talks with Draisaitl's camp. Bowman said in his introductory news conference in late July that extending Draisaitl was a "top priority" for him upon taking over. The Oilers will face another key negotiation next summer, when team captain Connor McDavid becomes eligible to sign an extension.