[butterfly]

Originally Posted by browna

I would be very very surprised if he's on the team in the Fall:
1)Most importantly he's a year away from FA, so he can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

2) I think he's been fed up with the organization for a while now and how they've had a carousel of goaltenders and coaches and a lot of promises made behind the scenes about change, when things don't and it's dysfunctional. He's a smart guy and he knows a rotten egg when he sees it and this is his earliest chace to get out and go to an organization that does things the right way on and off the ice. He's also worn out his welcome with fans and press, and he really could not care less then he currently does about that aspect.

3)Oilers desperately need to cap space for a last ditch effort to prevent McDavid from leaving, which is also a foregone conclusion...so, they begin the process of pushing Leon out the door...

4)As soon as the Oilers lose, the franchise and it's fans always need a scape goat. It's been goalies and coaches and GM the last 2 decades, but I think this time with the writing on the wall, the press will go after Driasital post series, and as the lress is directed for years by the top of the Oilers organization to direct and push the narrative, so to say they'll go after him as they did Smith (to retire) it's foreshadowing for his release, it would be an understatement. Press don't like him so that will make it easier. And he takes a big chunk of cap space, and is prone to injury, all of which will be spotlighted by said press.

If they do trade Draisaitl it would be smart, so I doubt they will. He’s not getting any better than this and will be 30 when the next contract kicks in. Hopefully they break the bank on an extension.