Could Leon Draisaitl get the NHL's highest annual cap hit on a new contract? When will Sidney Crosby re-sign with the Penguins? Here are the latest rumors and speculation.
The Edmonton Oilers sit over $354,000 above the $88-million salary cap for 2024-25, with RFA Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to re-sign. They must shed some salary once they get those two under contract to become cap-compliant by the start of the season.
However, the current focus among Oilers followers is fixed on the status of Leon Draisaitl's contract extension talks.
The 28-year-old center is slated to become a UFA next July. He's in line for a substantial raise, having earned an average annual value of $8.5 million on his current deal.
The Hockey News' Carol Schram noted on Thursday it's been a busy summer for Draisaitl with his engagement and attending Connor McDavid's wedding as a groomsman.
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal believes it could cost the Oilers $13.5 million annually to get Draisaitl under contract. He thinks they'll be lucky to get him at that price.
Matheson pointed out that Toronto's Auston Matthews' cap hit this season is $13.25 million, Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon is pulling in $12.6 million, Oilers captain Connor McDavid $12.5 million, New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin $11.64 million and Vancouver's Elias Pettersson $11.6 million. His colleague David Staples cited Oilers insider Bob Stauffer suggesting Draisaitl could seek a seven- or eight-year contract.
On Wednesday, TSN's Ryan Rishaug reported on social media that it appeared Oilers management and Draisaitl's representatives have been in touch regarding a contract extension. He indicated negotiations were expected to begin soon.
Considering Draisaitl's body of work (winner of the Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award in 2019-20, five 100-plus point performances in six seasons), he could become the NHL's highest-paid player starting in 2025-26. If the Oilers don't pay top dollar, another team will if he tests next summer's NHL free-agent market.
Meanwhile, there wasn't much to report recently regarding contract extension talks between Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Athletic's Rob Rossi sent the hearts of Penguins fans aflutter with his July 8 report citing multiple sources claiming the two sides were closing in on a deal. Since then, however, there's no sign of an incoming official announcement.
On Thursday, Rossi followed up by reporting his sources indicated both sides were comfortable enough with the direction of the negotiations to go about their summer plans and enjoyed a bit of downtime.
Rossi and Schram also noted that Crosby's birthday is fast approaching. The superstitious Penguins captain was born on Aug. 7, 1987, wears No. 87 to commemorate his birth date, and has played with an $8.7-million cap hit on his current contract.
The guess here is Crosby officially signs next week on his birthday.
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