Oilers podcaster speculates if and when Oilers would be concerned about Leon Draisaitl extension
As Leon Draisaitl approaches the final year of his $68 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers, attention is now keenly directed towards the ongoing contract extension negotiations.
Speculation suggests that Draisaitl could potentially secure the title of the NHL's highest-paid player starting from the 2025–26 season.
However, reports also indicate that if the Oilers do not offer a top-tier contract, there is a possibility that another team will be willing to pay a substantial contract to the German should he explore the free-agent market next summer.
"Oilersnation" podcaster Tyler Yaremchuk recently shared insights on the potential concerns surrounding Leon Draisaitl's contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers.
Yaremchuk highlighted the strong level of trust between both parties, indicating that any worries about Draisaitl changing his decision or backing out seem minimal:
"I think that also, you know, probably shows there's a pretty high level of trust between the two sides. Like if there was concern from the Oilers' side, that Draisaitl was gonna, you know, back out or change his mind or something was gonna go wrong, then," he said.
"Yeah, maybe they would be under some pressure to, kay, on the heels of getting that close to a Stanley Cup. Just get it done as fast as you can. But I think these two sides probably know they're going to find common ground at some point," Yaremchuk continued.
The Oilers podcaster expressed confidence that both sides are likely to reach a mutually beneficial agreement eventually. He emphasized that while the process may not be simple, there appears to be a clear path towards reaching a deal:
"And it'll be, you know, not easy to do, but you can kind of see the path towards how they're going to get a deal done. So, yeah, I have no problem with them waiting. I mean, announce it on August 31st. Wait till September, when he's back in town for camp."
Yaremchuk conveyed his belief that Leon Draisaitl's extension will likely be completed before the start of the season, reassuring fans that there is no need for undue concern about the current status of the negotiations.
"Like to me, this is going to get done before the beginning of the season, and there's really no reason to rush and no reason for fans to be concerned that this thing isn't done yet," Yaremchuk added.
Also Read: NHL analyst gives take on $68M Leon Draisaitl's trade lest Oilers don't offer 'deserving' extension
All we know about Leon Draisaitl's contract extension so far
Draisaitl is reportedly eager to stay with the Oilers. Reports suggest that the club might need to allocate around $13.5 million per year to secure the German's contract extension.
Additionally, the Edmonton Journal's David Staples referenced Oilers insider Bob Stauffer's suggestion that Leon Draisaitl might be seeking a long seven-or-eight-year contract term.
All signs and rumors point to one outcome: if Draisaitl agrees to an extension, it will likely be for a substantial duration. The only uncertainty lies in the exact figures and the timing of when the deal will be officially settled.