Edmonton Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl hopes he will be an Oiler for life after signing an eight-year contract extension with the NHL club.
The contract was announced by the team on Tuesday morning and has an average annual value of US$14 million.
“I take great pride in being an Oiler,” Draisaitl said during a virtual media availability Tuesday.
“I love nothing more but wearing that jersey and representing our city and our great fans. I’m really, really happy and excited to hopefully be an Oiler for life.”
The deal makes Draisaitl the highest-paid player in the NHL heading into next season.
“Players like Leon are special,” said Stan Bowman, Oilers executive vice-president of hockey operations and general manager.
“There’s not many people in the world that can play hockey like he does and there’s no way we could ever replace what Leon brings to the table. He’s a huge part of our team, he has been, and he will continue to be.”
Draisaitl, 28, was drafted by Edmonton third overall in the first round of the 2014 NHL draft.
The six-foot-two, 209-pound forward has played 719 games and accumulated 347 goals and 503 assists with the orange and blue. The Cologne, Germany, product played 81 games with the Oilers last season, recording 41 goals and 65 assists for 106 points. He added another 10 goals and 21 assists through 25 playoff games.
Bowman, who was hired in his role in July, said getting Draisaitl signed was his top priority.
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“He sure is great to watch – all the special things he does on the ice and he’s a competitive guy, he wants to win. And he wants to win for the Edmonton Oilers, which is the way I feel as well,” Bowman said.
For Draisaitl, the momentum the team has built over the past couple of years drives him to keep pushing for the ultimate goal – winning the Stanley Cup.
“It was always the Oilers. And obviously we haven’t gotten the job done yet, which makes it, to me, even more special. We’re going to do this together. We’re all pulling on the same rope here. I’m just excited to be a part of it,” Draisaitl said.
When it comes to the length of the deal, Draisaitl said eight years seemed like the best fit for him. He also hopes it shows his commitment to the team and to the city.
“I have a hard time picturing myself in a different jersey. I know things change, I’m aware of that and I understand the business side very well. But for me, I wanted to be an Oiler for life.”
Beyond winning hockey games, the community he has built in Edmonton was also a factor when deciding to stick with the team into the future.
“We’ve created friendships over the last couple of years. Our wives, fiancées, girlfriends have created friendships, forever-lasting friendships over the last couple of years and that’s really, really special,” Draisaitl said.
“We all want to win, but I think what we’ve created off the ice is almost just as important. People want to come here and when they do come it’s hard for them to leave now. … That’s something we’re really, really proud of.
“The main priority is to win a Stanley Cup, but certainly have made some life-long friends along the way.”
With Draisaitl signing with the Oilers long-term, questions surrounding Connor McDavid’s future with the team have arisen. McDavid is eligible to sign a new contract next summer.
While stressing he made the decision that was best for him, Draisaitl said he talked with his teammate throughout the process.
“Connor’s going to do what’s best for him, right? That’s just the way this works,” Draisaitl said.
“I did what I thought was best for me personally. Do I hope that Connor follows along? I’d be lying if I said no. Of course, I want him to stay on board and I want all our pieces to stay on board. But at the end of the day, I did what’s best for me, obviously having talked to him. We’ve had numerous conversations about it.”
Bowman added that when the time comes, McDavid’s contract negotiations will be handled separately.
“We want to win and we’re going to do everything in our power and hopefully that’s going to be something Connor likes to hear.”
Draisaitl was set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
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