Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl is "really happy" to have signed an eight-year, $112-million contract extension with an NHL-high annual value. The Cup is the main priority.
Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl is "really happy" to have signed an eight-year, $112-million contract extension with an NHL-high annual value. The Cup is the main priority.
If he wanted to leave the Edmonton Oilers next summer, superstar center Leon Draisaitl would’ve had a long lineup of teams bidding for his services.
But as he explained Tuesday after signing an eight-year, $112-million contract extension with Edmonton, Draisaitl didn’t want to be anywhere else – and he intends to be an Oiler for the duration of his NHL career.
“I’m really really happy, hopefully to be an Oiler for life,” Draisaitl told media in a press conference. “There’s a lot of chatter in these negotiations, but what we’ve built over the last couple years, and how at home I feel in Edmonton, I take great pride for playing for our city, and our fans.”
Draisaitl’s $14-million average annual value will be the highest in the NHL as it stands, although his teammate Connor McDavid will probably set the bar higher when he can sign an extension next summer.
"Connor's going to do what's best for him – that's just the way this works, and it's supposed to work that way," Draisaitl said. "I did what I thought was best for me, personally. Do I hope that Connor follows along? I'd be lying if I said, 'No.' Of course, I want him to stay on board, and I want all our pieces to stay on board."
But Draisaitl’s focus can now return to winning his first Stanley Cup – a goal he and the Oilers came within a single win of winning it all this past spring.
That sense of accomplishment has made Edmonton’s dressing room as united as it gets, and Draisaitl can’t help but be thrilled with the team's current competitive cycle.
“Over the years, what we’ve built with our group, how tight we are with our group, all the new guys coming in, they love playing in Edmonton,” Draisaitl said. “We all want to win, but what we’ve created off the ice is almost as important. The main priority is to win the Stanley Cup, but certainly, I’ve made some lifelong friends along the way.
“Obviously there was a sense of being proud of what we did (last season). What we all want is the last day of the season, for everyone to talk about us.”
Draisaitl knew the leverage he had in his latest contract negotiations, but leaving the team wasn’t really a viable option for the 28-year-old German. He and his teammates nearly realized a dream this past year, but he intends to finish that narrative and bring a Cup back to a city that once won NHL championships on the regular.
“I had a hard time picturing myself in a different jersey,” Draisaitl said. “You can’t be much closer (to winning) than we were, but we’ve gathered a lot of experience, a lot of positive signs over our playoff run. But we’re ready to attack again.”
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