[Signing] Oilers extend F Leon Draisaitl (8x$14M AAV)

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by butterfly

It would have been anyway, and they just blew a 9-figure stack of cash on a declining player. Killer move would have been a Matthews deal, but it seems Draisaitl is smarter than that.

Matthews is just younger and was smart and to not go 8 years coming off his ELC.

Matthews will be 31 when this 4 year contract expires, or only a year older than when Draisaitl's 8 year deal kicks in at 30.

Matthews went 3-5-4 for a total of 12 years before hitting UFA

Drai and McDavid both went 3-8 for their first 11 years.

Will work out better for Matthews because with the climbing cap he's going to maximize that last 8 year retirement contract with a salary cap that's much higher than it is today.

He would have been foolish to do 8 years now and lock up his 27-34 year old seasons and be a UFA at 34. This lets him cash in a 8 year deal at 31 and eat up those 35-39 year old seasons at a premium.

Similar to Drai right now, would have been crazy for him to take anything either than a 1 year deal (just to have a matching UFA with 97) or a 8 year deal.

[DeluxeMoustache]

This is marvellous.

When McDavid and Bouchard get paid, if they can’t dump Nurse, that’s 50 million tied up in 4 guys. Plus another 10.5 in Hyman and Nuge for a few years. And minimum 1.5 dead cap for Campbell.

So if 2025-6 cap jumps from 87.7 to 92 million, it leaves 30 million for 17 players

Average salary about 1.7 million to round out the roster.

Can’t keep Ekholm unless you want to pay average salary about 1.5

Not to mention, these guys have passed their peak age, if other superstars’ data is of predictive value

Good luck with that

[flamingred89]

What annoys me about the deal is that the Flames had their stars bolt and so far the Oilers have locked up 1 of 2.

The reality is this deal doesn't move the needle much as far as a dynasty or keeping the Oilers window open. And in fact probably hurts their franchise going forward. The window is the same. They have 2, now aging stars, playing 30 minutes a night. A wrong side of 30 Arvidsson, and Skinner, who are both often hurt, doesn't change anything. The team still doesn't have a legit D core or a starting goaltender. Nor can they afford anything now. They are all in on this year, maybe next, and will be handcuffed with legacy deals for players who haven't won anything.

All things considered, last year was the Oilers best shot and it was a Cinderella run. They were the worst team in the league the first 20 games. They strung together a once in a lifetime win streak on the backs of perfect scheduling, favourable reffing(It definitely happens. This is a business), and some good ol fashioned luck. Then they had the good fortune of playing a team they've seen 3 straight years in the playoffs. Who also, btw, outplayed them immensely at 5on5. See again favourable reffing(I'll never forget the comments from league wide pundits wondering what's going on). Then they went on to play a battered Canucks team who took them to 7 with a goaltending duo that no one will ever remember. Then they had the most ridiculous PK run of all time that can anyone explain? Like how does any team, let alone the Oilers, go 55 straight pk kills or whatever it is? Sheer luck. They rode this good fortune into the series with the Panthers. Where they got dismantled the first 3 games. And then the Cinderella began again and they battled back to 7 before the hockey gods stepped in. And just like any Cinderella run they fell short.

Of course they got their guy signed long term(hence the sour grapes) but in reality all this does is rewrite the Oilers record books. Draisaitl will get his 600 goals and 1300 points(the Schremp special) and Mcdavid will get to 2000. But they wont win anything because everything around them is, and has been, flawed. I think if we can just hold our butts for the next season or two and watch them lose in the playoffs. The drop off will be short and sweet and we'll see a team as bad as the blackhawks try to start it all over again. Without actually winning anything.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

He should take the max, and the NHLPA should be pressuring the hell out of him to take the max, but he most likely won't since he wants to win a cup.

In the recent salary cap era no player has come close to the max of 20%, nobody has even exceeded 16%.

The absolute max id guess we see is 18% of the cap, which if the cap is $92M next July 1 would be about $16.5M

I don’t disagree with you, he should sign for as much as he can get
But
The one thing I don’t understand is the “PA should pressure him…..”. Why should they care in the cap era? They are getting 50% HRR if he signs for 17M or 1M.
In fact the more he takes, the less everyone else gets

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Matthews is just younger and was smart and to not go 8 years coming off his ELC.

Matthews will be 31 when this 4 year contract expires, or only a year older than when Draisaitl's 8 year deal kicks in at 30.

Matthews went 3-5-4 for a total of 12 years before hitting UFA

Drai and McDavid both went 3-8 for their first 11 years.

Will work out better for Matthews because with the climbing cap he's going to maximize that last 8 year retirement contract with a salary cap that's much higher than it is today.

He would have been foolish to do 8 years now and lock up his 27-34 year old seasons and be a UFA at 34. This lets him cash in a 8 year deal at 31 and eat up those 35-39 year old seasons at a premium.

Similar to Drai right now, would have been crazy for him to take anything either than a 1 year deal (just to have a matching UFA with 97) or a 8 year deal.

Really good point.

If they did ELC-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-8-hanging on, that would maximize their career earnings. Matthews has been the closest one to approximate that, I think.

[Mr.Coffee]

The problem with your strategy is risk of injury or sucking, and both of these things happen.

If they didn’t, everyone would just do what you say to do.

[activeStick]

For sure, after Mcdavid extends there, the Oilers will absolutely need to get guys on the cheap who are doing it to try win with them. Some guys will do that, some guys won't. The best way to win is to do so while your top players are on their ELCs or their second contracts before these massive ones that take them to their retirement, but the Oilers weren't able to do that, so while they have 2 great players who likely will stay great for 3 or 4 seasons, time will catch up.

[FlamesAddiction]

I would think Mikko Rantanen gets something similar from Colorado. Maybe less because it's Colorado and not Edmonton, but I would think it's pretty comparable.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

The problem with your strategy is risk of injury or sucking, and both of these things happen.

If they didn’t, everyone would just do what you say to do.

Sure, there's risk. If you're a fringe player, bet against yourself. If you're a franchise player, bet on yourself.

How many 22-year-old Leon Draisaitls are hanging around? How will you ever get this opportunity again? You're among the best at what you do and you're scared? No.

You can extract a fortune out of a team as an RFA and the media will help you. The time to quit playing the 1-year deal game is when you're beyond your prime, as Draisaitl is now, and take the retirement deal to the bank.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I would think Mikko Rantanen gets something similar from Colorado. Maybe less because it's Colorado and not Edmonton, but I would think it's pretty comparable.

There is zero chance Rantanen makes more than Mackinnon on his next contract.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

The problem with your strategy is risk of injury or sucking, and both of these things happen.

If they didn’t, everyone would just do what you say to do.

Yeah, taking 8M (1x8) over 64M (8x8) would be pretty tough to do when there’s a real risk of a knee injury in your ELC+1 year ending your career

Plus nobody is going to sign a 23 year old superstar who’s been in the league since they were 18 to a 1 year contract

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by All In Good Time

Yeah, taking 8M (1x8) over 64M (8x8) would be pretty tough to do when there’s a real risk of a knee injury in your ELC+1 year ending your career

How often does that happen? Whose careers didn't get ended by injury in their ELC+1 seasons and whose did?

Charge them 1x$9M. The player holds all the cards and the radio and newspapers will do the rest.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by butterfly

How often does that happen? Whose careers didn't get ended by injury in their ELC+1 seasons and whose did?

Charge them 1x$9M. The player holds all the cards and the radio and newspapers will do the rest.

All the power to you if you’d leave a guaranteed 56M on the table, that speaks volumes

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by All In Good Time

All the power to you if you’d leave a guaranteed 56M on the table, that speaks volumes

If I have the talent of Leon Draisaitl I'm laughing at it and asking for more.

You can be scared if you want. It's a valid feeling. I'm not sure why you'd feel it if you have a talent that few people on the planet possess and you have an opportunity to take full advantage of it.

Settling for quarters when you could have dollars speaks volumes.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by butterfly

If I have the talent of Leon Draisaitl I'm laughing at it and asking for more.

You can be scared if you want. It's a valid feeling. I'm not sure why you'd feel it if you have a talent that few people on the planet possess and you have an opportunity to take full advantage of it.

Settling for quarters when you could have dollars speaks volumes.

I see
Well it’s obvious why every professional athlete in history hasn’t done what you are suggesting. Some say caution equals a degree of awareness.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by All In Good Time

I see
Well it’s obvious why every professional athlete in history hasn’t done what you are suggesting. Some say caution equals a degree of awareness.

Some say? Who said that?

Is Leon Draisaitl headed to the poorhouse after a 1x$9M contract after ELC? Hah.

Originally Posted by All In Good Time

All the power to you if you’d leave a guaranteed 56M on the table, that speaks volumes

If you were Draisaitl would you leave a guaranteed $55M contract on the table? $54M? $44M? Where does it end?

[Buff]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

But that's not his role in Edmonton. The heavy lifting is done by McDrai, RNH, Bouchard, Ekholm, S. Skinner. In other places, he was expected to be one of the leaders at the front. Major difference.

Doesn't matter who is the scorer and who is the grinder. Every player's role is to help the team succeed. If you have players on the team who aren't expected to help your team with winning then you won't succeed.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Groot

There is zero chance Rantanen makes more than Mackinnon on his next contract.

OK, maybe not in Colorado. It could be a good reason for him to try his luck on the market then.

[EldrickOnIce]

This is the start of some cap crippling moves for the Oilers long term. As an Oilers hater and Flames fan this is unfortunate for the upcoming season, and in the short term too probably. The only possible saving grace is that their inept management has left the franchise bereft of prospects who might develop under elc's. I don't think it has ever worked to cobble together a group of post apex vets on single year deals and have them become the 'team' they need to be to win. I trust that won't happen this now as well. But yeah, the Flames stars bolt and the Oilers stay doesn't feel good, and I was looking forward to the season long contract diatraction. The problem is not with signing a superstar to a big money long term deal. What kills you is signing fringe players to huge deals, and that is the solace I take with this. Hopefully by the time the Oiler clean up the mess they created with Nurse/Campbell type contracts Drai (and now likely McDavid) will be enough post apex that there is no window anyway.
Regardless, Edmonton is no good.

[EldrickOnIce]

Spector drivel

Title
Leon Draisaitl contract a testament to ‘special’ Oilers culture

I did not provide link because it us not worth your time reading