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TSN hockey analyst Frank Corrado shared his insights with Jay Onrait of SportsCenter regarding Leon Draisaitl's contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers.
The Oilers are currently in the process of searching for their next general manager. Additionally, they are working on securing contract extensions for key players such as Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard.
These upcoming negotiations are crucial for the team, as they aim to solidify their roster and maintain competitiveness in the league. Draisaitl has one year remaining on his $68 million deal signed with the Oilers in 2017. He will become a UFA at the end of the 2024–25 season.
During the discussion on Draisaitl's contract situation, Frank Corrado expressed his views and opined that if the 28-year-old German forward chooses to stay with the Oilers, the contract extension is likely to be of moderate length, with the financial terms aligning with Draisaitl's preferences.
"If Leon Draisaitl wants to commit to Edmonton, I don't think it would be a long-term deal. I imagine it would be a midrange kind of deal as far as the term goes. The dollar value is whatever the dollar value Draisaitl wants it to be, and the Edmonton Oilers would have been well aware of that," Corrado said.
Corrado went on to highlight the team's impressive playoff performance, coming within one victory of claiming the Stanley Cup. He pointed out the significant offseason developments, with numerous players showing a keen interest in joining or staying with the Oilers.
"I look at it like there's unfinished business now in Edmonton. The fact that they got as far as they did in the playoffs, one win away from winning a Stanley Cup, him and McDavid have been tied together at the hip. Now, you take a look at the offseason that they've had so far. Look at all these players that want to come to Edmonton, want to stay in Edmonton, some guys taking pay cuts to play for the Oilers," he continued.
Regarding Draisaitl, Corrado suggested that there is a compelling motivation for him to see through the team's progress in Edmonton, potentially solidifying his legacy as a pivotal figure in the Edmonton Oilers' pursuit of Stanley Cup victory.
"They want to win a Stanley Cup, and they believe that the team is on the precipice of doing so." So for Leon Draisaitl, there's probably a little bit of a part of him that says let's get this done in Edmonton. Let's finish the job that we started and that would go such a long way for Leon dry sidles legacy as an Edmonton Oilers," Corrado added.
Oilers waiting for GM appointment before Leon Draisaitl's decision
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, in his post-draft column, said that the ongoing contact negotiations involving Leon Draisaitl extend beyond just his individual deal. The discussions also encompass the broader context of Connor McDavid's situation.
"Jackson seems prepared to slow-play this, waiting until after a new GM is hired, letting everyone breathe. The Oilers won’t be concerned if no concrete answers exist for a few weeks. They didn’t have to know by the draft or July 1," Friedman wrote.
The Oilers appear poised to take a methodical approach, with a willingness to wait until after the appointment of a new general manager before finalizing any significant decisions regarding Draisaitl's extension.
Also Read: NHL analysts predict record-breaking extensions for Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid
