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

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by blankall

That being said...yikes. The guy is turning 30 in a couple of months..

He's 28, he turns 30 in a couple of months and a year.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

I think this signing bonus makes this contract really risky for the Oilers. You see quite often Draisaitl’s GAF meter pretty darn low. Pretty tough to get the engine running for this guy when he already banks $104MM as a signing bonus. Draisaitl isn’t exactly a leader or a warrior, one of the first to fold his tent and mail in the team game…..

Bonus money or salary, its all guaranteed. It really mostly affects the buy out, as we've seen from the Huberdeau contract. And lockouts.

But he is buyout proof for sure.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

He's 28, he turns 30 in a couple of months and a year.

He shall turn 30 when we shall deem he turns 30!

We adhere to the Julian Calendar upon which we may add or remove days at our pleasure!

Now fetch me some wine!

[Gundo]

As a flames fan I’m incredibly jealous that very able to sign such an amazing player and keep him with the team, hoping to keep their core intact.

And as a flames fan, I’m also incredibly Optimistic that the current era of the flames we are going to be going through is similar to the Oilers era in which Leon was drafted and there is light at the end of the tunnel similar to the Oilers are now experiencing.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by blankall

I'm not 100% sure why players do this. I get that having money upfront is great, but a player like Draisaitl might have been better off encouraging a buy out. It's going to be a miserable last few years for him if he's collecting $14/year post 35, sucks at hockey and the entire city hates his guts. You'd think he'd want the buyout and then go on a cup hunt or victory lap in Europe.

Players get less money overall in a buyout, unless the new contract they sign makes up the difference. Which often doesn't happen.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

He's 28, he turns 30 in a couple of months and a year.

A couple of months after the contract kicks in.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Locke

Plus...I always find it interesting when a player goes and makes a contract completely buy-out proof and that teams agree to it.

If I were in a negotiating position and the player and/or Agent came to me with a contract that was completely buyout-proof? I think I'd say something like:

"Well, 'buyout-proof' has value, so that AAV has to come down. I can't give you something of value without receiving value in return. We value you at $14m but you want this, you want that and the other things, no problem, but then then AAV has to come down accordingly as to how we value those options."

Not to mention, just the Optics of that contract. That GAF level is going to plunge into the sewer near the end of that contract.

Maybe it did come down. Like from 14.5-15M

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Maybe it did come down. Like from 14.5-15M

Maybe? I wouldnt feel that its equivalent value for both parties, but who knows how the Clowns up north operate.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Players get less money overall in a buyout, unless the new contract they sign makes up the difference. Which often doesn't happen.

I get that. But odds are you're not seeing a buyout until at least 4 years in. And I do think that Draisaitl, even at half speed would get $3ish million/year to put on a side show in Europe. Seems like $1-2 million/year in salary losses would be a good compromise to actually enjoy your life.

Plus doesn't the player get the money up front in a buyout, instead of having to wait to get paid ever year?

I get why everyone doesn't do it, but in this case you'd think Draisaitl would think about it.

[dino7c]

Just a reminder Huberdeau outscored Drai the year the Flames traded for and gave him the contract
players can go downhill fast, especially with the miles those guys have

even if they are exactly (unlikely) the same though the team around them will be worse and other teams will have stars in their prime. This upcoming season is for sure the Oilers best shot at a cup and a lot would have to go right. We saw at the start of last season what a fine line it can be

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

A couple of months after the contract kicks in.

True, but that's not what was said in the original post. it said he turns 30 in a couple of months.

[Coach]

Man, I guess I just don't understand it.

If you told me I could make $125M and live in Edmonton, or $110M and live, basically anywhere else including some of the world's best cities, it's just a no brainer. Especially if I had already lived in Edmonton for a decade.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

A couple of months after the contract kicks in.

Technically it's closer to 4 months since the contract starts July 1and he's an October 25 birthday but it's 3 weeks into the first season of the contract give or take.

[jlh2640]

Great player, but he will be 30 when the deal takes effect, not sure this is going to age well. Time will be fun to watch as that team is old already

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Gundo

As a flames fan I’m incredibly jealous that very able to sign such an amazing player and keep him with the team, hoping to keep their core intact.

And as a flames fan, I’m also incredibly Optimistic that the current era of the flames we are going to be going through is similar to the Oilers era in which Leon was drafted and there is light at the end of the tunnel similar to the Oilers are now experiencing.

Im telling you in a couple years you will no longer be jealous

they will be a mediocre old team locked in for nearly a decade

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I'm not so sure. He's always had a bit of a hunched over skating style. It obviously works fine for him now, but once he loses a step or two he will be shadow of what we see today, imo. The question is will that be when he's 32, 36, or 38? He'll be fine for the first few years I'm assuming, but he won't be this good at all at 38, if not a lot sooner.

I just think of other big guys like Thornton, Iginla, Getzlaf and to a lesser degree Boyle who were able to be effective while long in the tooth.

[Josh]

Someday GM's will figure out (hopefully us included) that long term signings for players ending well into their 30's often times don't work out well.

This isn't a criticism that's reserved just for the oilers.

[dustygoon]

Dom thinks this is an overpay of around $1mm. And >$100mm in bonuses. Full NMC.

How is this a discount? It's not even fair value.

And why did they think the mids like Holloway should take a discount if the big guys don't?

Two tier system for next 10 years.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I would be curious to see how productive Draisaitl is with McDavid gone.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Dom thinks this is an overpay of around $1mm. And >$100mm in bonuses. Full NMC.

How is this a discount? It's not even fair value.

And why did they think the mids like Holloway should take a discount if the big guys don't?

Two tier system for next 10 years.

Its not a discount, anyone saying otherwise is a massive Oiler homer...its also a 5.5M raise and will effect the team as such. 5.5M less for others.