If Draisaitl accepts a small discount to stay with the Oilers instead of heading elsewhere next summer, that could help convince the rest of the core to stay, says Jim Parsons.

Leon Draisaitl's upcoming contract renewal with the Edmonton Oilers puts him in a position to make a significant statement. 

While official negotiations haven't begun, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug, there's speculation the star forward could sign an eight-year deal worth at least $13.5 million annually, per the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson.

Insiders such as Frank Seravalli and Bob Stauffer have consistently indicated that going long-term was always the forward's plan and that the term length was a critical aspect of the negotiations, confirmed by Draisaitl’s agent, Mike Liut.

Meanwhile, new Oilers' GM Stan Bowman said in his introductory media scrum that Draisaitl is a top priority and should be an Oiler for life. 

“The hardest thing to do is get star players. We’ve got them,” he said.

With both sides on the same page, the Draisaitl deal seems imminent. That said, the Oilers may be slightly delaying the announcement. 

If the Oilers take the same approach with Draisaitl’s deal that they appeared to with McDavid's in 2017 – let rumors of a higher cap hit circulate before a lower number is announced – Draisaitl's final figure could even be slightly lower than the rumored $13.5 million to $14 million, making him look like a team player making concessions for the greater good. 

At the time of McDavid's deal, then-GM Peter Chiarelli said his cap hit could've been much more on a shorter-term deal, but the captain was committed for the full eight years. A similar narrative may follow the Draisaitl announcement.

It's a smart move to present the player as a team-first guy, but what’s important is that he takes a deal the team can work with.

Draisaitl Can Set a Tone for the Rest of the Roster

If Draisaitl accepts a slight salary discount, other key players should do the same. While McDavid will undoubtedly and ultimately receive a higher salary in 2025, Draisaitl’s deal is no less important to the organization. Should both players shave a bit off their respective asks, the Oilers would be in good shape to address other needs on their roster.

A team-first mindset would highlight both players’ dedication to winning with the Oilers, which could convince Evan Bouchard and Stuart Skinner to follow when their deals expire in the next year or two. That would allow the team to stay together and bring multiple Stanley Cups within reach.

While the details of Draisaitl’s deal are yet to be fully confirmed, his potential willingness to get the ball rolling highlights a pivotal shift in how star players view the Oilers – a trend that started to occur this off-season. Maintaining enough cap space after contract negotiations could help Edmonton continue to attract free agents, re-sign their own players and build a balanced, competitive roster capable of contending for the Stanley Cup for years to come.

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