Is Leon Draisaitl To The Sharks Actually Possible?
Rumors of Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl leaving for the San Jose Sharks during the 2025 offseason have begun to swirl, but how legit is it?
Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports - Is Leon Draisaitl To The Sharks Actually Possible?Rumors of Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl leaving for the San Jose Sharks during the 2025 offseason have begun to swirl, but how legit is it?
On the Jeff Marek show, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski and Marek both speculated this rumor.
"Do you think that Draisaitl will go to San Jose because the owner is German," Wyshynski questioned.
"I think there's an opportunity," Marek responded. "That's kinda been whispered for a while now."
Draisaitl will be a pending UFA for the 2025 offseason, and while I think it is a stretch, the fact that insiders are referencing it now speaks volumes to the fact that this isn't something someone can rule out now.
There is a long way to go until the 2025 offseason, but the Sharks have a promising future ahead, and GM Mike Grier has said he wants to be able to bring in significant free agents when the team is more set up for them.
"Emerging market. Great young players, and they will obviously compensate him," Wyshynski said.
With the salary cap projected to rise exponentially this offseason, the Sharks could maintain their lack of high-price contracts for one more season while they let prospects develop. In doing so, this leaves more space for a possible bidding war for Leon Draisaitl.
Fellow countryman to Draisaitl, Nico Sturm, is also set to become a free agent during the 2025 offseason, but only if the Sharks can retain him, should Mike Grier want to extend him.
Leon Draisaitl to the Sharks would be a superstar that the young core can build around, but at 28 years old, is giving him a long-term contract in the plans for Mike Grier? Only the GM knows what he wants, and there is still a whole season of development for the young Sharks.
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