[Signing] Oilers sign Draisaitl (8 yrs, $8.5 mil AAV)

[TheFlamesVan]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Same combined cap hit as Kane and Toews. So, if you think that Draisatl is a top line player then it's not bad for the Oil, infact, it seems fine.

They are fair contracts for sure, I'm just happy the Flames have a different setup.

[Jacks]

McDavid is worth his cap hit but Draisaitl is overpaid by 1.5M IMO.

McNugget 12.5M
Draisaitl 8.5M
Lucic 6M
Add in 22M for 4D and goalie

That's almost 50M tied up in one forward line, an average top 4 and a goalie. That's also assuming they can get rid of RNH without retaining. Not necessarily 'cap hell' but they will have the same challenges Chicago is facing. Those Lucic and Russell contracts are going to hurt.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Only in a world in which the salary cap continues to grow at a 4–5% rate. But if we are entering a climate of stagnation or slower growth, this will not be remotely near the same sort of bargain that Crosby's or Malkin's deals eventually became.

Even with a stagnant cap, I would be stunned if we signed, for instance Gaudreau in five years, to under 8.5 AAV. And Gaudreau probably isn't as multi-facetted as a prime Draisaitl should be.

[sureLoss]

CapFriendly @CapFriendly
Food for thought

#Oilers cap hit:
17-18: $66.7M (24 players)
18-19: $60.7M (13 players)

*Roster limit is 23 plyrs

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Clearly it pays to have one good stint in the playoffs.

It's kind of crazy to see how much leverage young players with one good season and no arbitration rights can have in the NHL.

Compare to Major League Baseball's Mookie Betts who, in the last year of his entry level contract was an all-star, finished second in MVP voting, second in WAR, won a gold glove and a silver slugger. And all he managed was a one-year, $950,000 contract for 2017. He will get paid eventually, but not yet.

[TheIronMaiden]

The quality of this contract will come out in the wash. Only one thing is for certain in the Oilers future, they will need excellent drafting to be a contender down the road. Their ELC players are going to need to do some heavy lifting.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Torture

As a Flames fan I'm OK with that number...21M for McD and Drai combined. 30% of the cap.

Don't forget 21.4M for Sekera, Klefbom, Larsson, Russell, and Fayne. And Fayne only played 4 NHL games and 39 AHL games last year.

Compared to a Flames top 5 for 24.5M consisting of Giordano, Hamilton, Brodie, Hamonic, and Stone.

[neo45]

The two massive contracts won't kill them, but their poor drafting, development, coaching, and GM will.

Look how underwhelming the Hawks have been since their big contracts kicked in, and that is with signing all the best cheap free agents every offseason. The oilers are in trouble if they dont win this year.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

The quality of this contract will come out in the wash. Only one thing is for certain in the Oilers future, they will need excellent drafting to be a contender down the road. Their ELC players are going to need to do some heavy lifting.

I must be one of the only people as yet unconvinced by Draisaitl.

[JohnnyTitan]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

The quality of this contract will come out in the wash. Only one thing is for certain in the Oilers future, they will need excellent drafting to be a contender down the road. Their ELC players are going to need to do some heavy lifting.

But most of their "ELC players" are burning through their ELCs. I'm sure you were referencing future ELC players...but Nurse and FIVE others will be off their ELC next season! Leaving Poolboy as the only notable ELC over 20 years of age.

[Erick Estrada]

Talbot is a UFA in two years which means they will likely be discussing an extension this season. He's up for a healthy raise. You have to think their window starts to close after the next two seasons.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Even with a stagnant cap, I would be stunned if we signed, for instance Gaudreau in five years, to under 8.5 AAV. And Gaudreau probably isn't as multi-facetted as a prime Draisaitl should be.

I fail to see how any of this renders Draisaitl's cap hit a "bargain."

The fact remains that this is a massive number—Draisaitl's contract today carries a top-ten cap hit league wide. If the salary cap stagnates, then his contract will remain a massive number. It is a huge amount of money for a player who still also carries a good deal of uncertainty. Is he a top-ten NHL player? Can he carry a line on his own? Can he be an effective NHL centre? These are all still matters of dispute.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Locke

I must be one of the only people as yet unconvinced by Draisaitl.

Here is hoping that the quality proves to be poor!

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Locke

I must be one of the only people as yet unconvinced by Draisaitl.

He's shown to be a very good player when paired with McDavid or Hall but apart from them he's been pretty middling so I wouldn't expect a situation like in Pittsburgh when Crosby missed significant time Malkin could pick up the slack as if McDavid misses significant time there's a massive drop off as Draisaitl on his own who will not be able to carry the team.

[JohnnyTitan]

If I understand ELC bonuses (which I may not?) -> It looks to me as though the Oilers have more than enough current ELC guys who will earn bonuses to eat up their ~$2M in cap space THIS SEASON.

So I think they'll have to carry forward a bonus overage next season. Right when McDavid's contract kicks in and SEVEN current ELCs turn RFA. (I forgot about Brossoit).

It will be great to see Chia squirm next off-season. Pretty much assured that RNH will be traded for nothing.

We just need to make sure this team goes nowhere THIS YEAR. Then I'm happily pessimistic about the future of the Oilers again!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's shown to be a very good player when paired with McDavid or Hall but apart from them he's been pretty middling so I wouldn't expect a situation like in Pittsburgh when Crosby missed significant time Malkin could pick up the slack as if McDavid misses significant time there's a massive drop off as Draisaitl on his own who will not be able to carry the team.

He strikes me as a $6M player playing alongside a $12.5M player.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Ruttiger

For better or worse, term and $ were exactly what I suspected. Glad he's locked up, but now the clock starts ticking on RNH.

Unless a team gets him at 50% off, or can send back one of their bad contracts, the clock can tick as much as it wants. A soft, skilled adequate inconsistent center at $6 million bucks, doesn't stretch the slacks of any GM.

[joejoe3]

Horrible, was expecting more overpayment than this.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Unless a team gets him at 50% off, or can send back one of their bad contracts, the clock can tick as much as it wants. A soft, skilled adequate inconsistent center at $6 million bucks, doesn't stretch the slacks of any GM.

We complain about Stajan's $3.125M caphit as our 4th line centre, I cant imagine a $6M RNH as your 3rd line centre.

[Fire in the disco]

I'd rather have Monahan than Drai, and that's before salaries are taken into account. This feels like a big overpay for a guy who hasn't proven that he can carry a line by himself