Leon Draisaitl contract talks with the Oilers take an unfortunate detour

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Axel Williams
August 28, 2024 (1:51 PM)

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Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers are currently in contract talks that will have huge implications for the team's cap capabilities, moving forward.

As we have reported in the past, insiders have suggested that Draisaitl will make anywhere between $13.5 and $14 million per year. In fact, insiders like 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast and even Frank Seravalli had claimed that the deal was all but signed.

Unfortunately, it would appear as though things have taken a turn. Seravalli updated his reporting today, noting that Draisaitl and the Oilers are much further apart than what was originally revealed. While he won't say things have hit a snag, he did say it has gotten a bit more complicated than originally believed.

The Oilers are already in big-time salary cap trouble. This is ultimately why they allowed Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to walk. At the end of the day, the NHL is a business, and GM Stan Bowman has had to make some incredibly difficult decisions.

As for Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, the Oilers know they have to get deals done. Whether or not those deals will be team friendly, still remains to be seen. For now, it is not looking great.

Do you believe Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers can get a deal done soon? Let us know in the poll down below and stay tuned to Hockey Unplugged for the latest news and updates from around the hockey world.