There is only one season left on Leon Draisaitl’s contract and all options still seem on the table for the Edmonton Oilers forward, who has not thought about his future.
On Wednesday, two days after his team’s defeat in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final, the German met with the media. Still disappointed with the outcome of the series, he gave a “flat” response, according to him, to a journalist questioning him about his contract.
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“Obviously I haven’t had time to think about it. It hasn’t been on my mind much lately. I will have to take a little time to know what I want, what the Oilers want, what everyone wants, and then find a solution,” he said.
Draisaitl has just completed a 10e season in Edmonton, a fifth where he crossed the 100 point plateau. The 28-year-old wants to win, but in a year’s time, will he judge that the Oilers are the ones who give him the best chance to win the big honors?
Also, his salary is likely to increase since the center has only earned a “reasonable” $8.5 million for the past seven years. Will the Oilers have the cap space to pay him properly?
General manager Ken Holland may also not be back, since his own contract will expire. TSN journalist Darren Dreger also said Wednesday that he did not expect to see the 68-year-old man again with the Oilers.
So there are a lot of questions to answer, but for now, Draisaitl only has his team on his mind.
“I love being an Oiler more than anything else. That’s all I’ll say,” he said.
According to NHL Network reporter Chris Johnston, the Oilers wouldn’t want Draisaitl to reach free agency. They should take care of their more urgent files like free agents, before looking into his file.
