source: Instagram/@drat_29
Edmonton Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl has secured his future with the team, signing a new eight-year contract worth $112 million on Tuesday.
Starting next summer, Draisaitl will earn $14 million per season, making him the highest-paid player in the NHL. The previous record was held by Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, whose contract had an average annual value of $13.25 million.
Draisaitl, who is 28 years old, was about to enter the last season of his current eight-year, $68 million contract. Without this new deal, he would have become an unrestricted free agent in the 2025 offseason.
“This is a historic day for the Edmonton Oilers,” said Stan Bowman, the team’s general manager. “Leon’s commitment to our team, our city, and Oilers fans around the world is truly remarkable. His passion for bringing a Stanley Cup title to Edmonton drives everything he does, both on and off the ice.”
Draisaitl has consistently been a standout performer for the Oilers. Last season, he scored 106 points, including 41 goals and 65 assists, in 81 games. During the playoffs, he added another 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists), though the Oilers fell short in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.
Selected as the third overall pick by the Oilers in the 2014 NHL Draft, Draisaitl has racked up an impressive 850 points, with 347 goals and 503 assists, in 719 career games.
The new extension, which will start with the 2025-26 season and run through the 2032-33 season, demonstrates Draisaitl’s long-term commitment to the Oilers. His new deal sets a strong foundation for Edmonton as they continue their pursuit of a Stanley Cup title.
