Leon Draisaitl signs an 8-year, $112 million contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers, securing his future with the team as one of the NHL’s highest-paid players. The deal reflects his status as a key cornerstone for the Oilers’ championship aspirations.
Leon Draisaitl signed an eight-year, $112 million contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers, making him the highest-paid player in the NHL when the deal begins in the 2025-26 season. The contract carries an average annual value (AAV) of $14 million, surpassing the previous top contract held by Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs at $13.25 million per year【18†source】【19†source】.
The extension confirms Draisaitl’s long-term commitment to the Oilers, as he will continue to be a central figure for the team alongside Connor McDavid. Draisaitl’s new deal highlights his value as one of the league’s top offensive players, with 850 career points, including 347 goals and 503 assists, across 719 regular-season games【18†source】.
The Edmonton Oilers are currently facing a challenging salary cap situation heading into the 2024-25 season. The team is approximately $354,167 over the $88 million cap with a roster size of 21 players. If Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, the two remaining RFAs, sign contracts around $1 million each, the team would exceed the cap by about $2.3 million, necessitating further adjustments to become compliant【27†source】.
### Potential Solutions:
1. **Burying Contracts**: The Oilers can bury some contracts in the AHL for cap relief, potentially removing up to $1.15 million per contract. Likely candidates for this include Josh Brown ($1 million) and Troy Stecher ($787,500), which would still leave them slightly over the cap.
2. **Running a Minimal Roster**: Another option is running a 20-man roster, the minimum allowed, by waiving a veteran forward like Corey Perry ($1.15 million). This would bring them under the cap but with minimal flexibility in case of injuries or poor performance.
3. **Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR)**: If a player, such as Evander Kane ($5.125 million), is placed on LTIR, the Oilers could exceed the cap by that player’s salary, potentially providing significant temporary relief.
4. **Trades**: Moving higher-salary players like Cody Ceci ($3.25 million) or Brett Kulak ($2.75 million) could also help, though this would impact team depth and is considered less likely.
These maneuvers aim to help the Oilers manage their tight cap space while preparing for the upcoming season【27†source】.
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