Leon Draisaitl makes specific demand on pending contract with Oilers

It has been reported that star forward Leon Draisaitl is looking to sign a long-term contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers with new general manager Stan Bowman in charge. However, new information has come in that the German star is looking for a specific demand. It’s been said how Draisaitl would be willing to take a pay cut if the other teammates like Evan Bouchard and captain Connor McDavid would be willing to do the same, and if he could sign a long-term eight-year deal.

McDavid’s contract expires in 2026 while Bouchard inked a two-year bridge contract last summer when he reached the end of his entry-level deal.

Draisaitl has one year left on his current deal and could become the most coveted unrestricted free agent next summer if he doesn’t re-sign with Edmonton. His current contract carries a very team-friendly $8.5 million cap hit, with many pundits and insiders expecting a significant raise around the $12.5 to $13.5 million.

Unless all three aforementioned stars are willing to take that infamous hometown discount.

His agent Jiri Poner had previously mentioned this summer how the ball was in Edmonton’s court, even sounding like he was giving the team an ultimatum to get a contract agreement done before the end of August. One of his other agents Mike Liut recently told host Bob Stauffer on 630 CHED that the term is pretty much set in stone.

“It’s going to be a seven or eight-year deal, it’s probably going to be an eight-year deal, realistically,” Stauffer said. “My belief is that it’s going to be an eight-year deal.”

Now I guess we will have to see if Draisaitl will accept a discount, meaning McDavid and Bouchard could follow suit.