Securing the Future: How Draisaitl’s Extension Boosts Oilers’ Stanley Cup Pursuit
In a blockbuster move on Tuesday morning, the Edmonton Oilers agreed to extend the contract of their star center, Leon Draisaitl, for eight years, worth $112 million to keep the lethal offensive threat in Edmonton for the long run. The massive contract for Draisaitl, which is expected to start in 2025–2026, has an average annual value of $14 million. Entering this upcoming season, Draisaitl was in the final year of a separate eight-year deal he signed with the Oilers back in 2017. The Oilers' decision to offer their alternate captain such a large contract extension, with Draisaitl set for the long haul demonstrates their willingness and commitment to building on the success of the Draisaitl and Connor McDavid era in Edmonton, which saw the team make it to the Stanley Cup Finals last season and fall one game short of winning their first Stanley Cup since 1989–1990.
With the decision to keep Draisaitl in Edmonton long-term, alongside McDavid, who is also eligible for a contract extension next July, the Oilers will continue to have the luxury of having one of the league’s most potent offensive duos for years to come. Last season, McDavid and Draisaitl's chemistry was evident as they both contributed significantly to their team's deep playoff run. A season ago, Draisaitl finished with 41 goals, 65 assists, and 106 points in the regular season. In the postseason, he added 10 goals, which ranked third in the playoffs, 21 assists, and 31 points. In 25 postseason games last season, McDavid added eight goals, 34 assists, and 42 points to go along with Draisaitl's ongoing success from last season, particularly in the playoffs.
The Oilers now shift their attention to the 2024–25 season with significantly higher expectations after making it to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2006, and following the agreement on Draisaitl's newest contract extension. The Oilers enter this upcoming season, after having a busy offseason, filled with a bunch of free-agent additions or re-signings, with some of the most notable including Connor Brown, Viktor Arvidsson, Adam Henrique, and Corey Perry. The Oilers did, however, lose seven-year winger Warren Foegele to the Kings in free agency. Foegele had played for the Oilers the past three seasons and had scored 20 goals in 2023–24. In the long run, the Oilers' capacity to manage multiple large contract extensions, assuming McDavid and the team reach a new agreement before the end of 2025–2026, will be crucial to their ability to add talent around McDavid and Draisaitl that will support their success and fulfill the fans' hopes of seeing the team win a Stanley Cup again.
