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The Edmonton Oilers have had one of the crucial shocking first halves they’ve ever had as a crew. They got here into the 2023-24 marketing campaign with loads of confidence behind them and lots of thought of them Stanley Cup favourites, however their begin didn’t again up any of these beliefs. After beginning the season 3-9-1, the crew made some huge adjustments, opting to fire Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson who had been changed by Kris Knoblauch and Paul Coffey. They have seemingly turned this Oilers’ squad from a struggling defensive crew into what could possibly be a Stanley Cup winner..
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The Oilers additionally determined to send down goaltender Jack Campbell and name up Calvin Pickard which has been a great determination to date and should have performed an element within the crew’s newfound success. The quantity of fear in Oilers followers has gone down considerably as they at present have an eight-game profitable streak and appear to be enjoying significantly better hockey at each ends of the ice. Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, and Leon Draisaitl have all stepped up in huge methods offensively over this spectacular stretch.
One situation many followers have caught behind their minds is one the Oilers must take care of fairly quickly and that’s re-signing Draisaitl, whose contract expires after subsequent season and can seemingly command at the very least $12.75 million per season on his subsequent deal. While there isn’t any cause to consider the Oilers gained’t have the ability to re-sign Draisaitl or that he’s contemplating going elsewhere, Oilers insider Mark Spector made some followers consider in any other case along with his latest headline after an interview with the famous person ahead.
“…He could take this opportunity to go to a far sexier market like Vegas or Los Angeles, where his girlfriend/actor Celeste Desjardins would be closer to her work. Or be nearer his homeland, his Spanish villa and his summer home in Aurora, Ont., while playing on the East Coast in Boston or New York.”
– Mark Spector on Draisaitl doubtlessly leaving the Oilers (Edmonton’s Iron Horse: Draisaitl the next big Canadian contract to watch)
In the article, Spector talks about how vital Draisaitl’s subsequent contract is and the way a lot of an impression his determination can have on the league. Draisaitl isn’t going to flat-out give his determination — no matter what it’s — till he is aware of what it’s himself. Draisaitl claims within the interview that he and McDavid will make their very own choices based mostly on what’s finest for them, and so they must have loads of conversations with their households and brokers to resolve their subsequent transfer.
Draisaitl’s Impact With The Oilers
Draisaitl was drafted by the Oilers third total within the 2014 NHL Entry Draft after a stellar exhibiting within the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Prince Albert Raiders the place he scored 38 targets and added 67 assists for 105 factors by means of 64 video games. In the identical season, he represented his dwelling nation of Germany on the U20 World Junior Championship, the place he scored two targets and added 4 assists for six factors in six video games. He shortly constructed himself a popularity as an offensive powerhouse and the Oilers had been hoping he might switch his offensive recreation to the NHL, which everybody already is aware of he did.
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Draisaitl broke by means of on the NHL stage within the 2016-17 season the place he scored 29 targets and added 48 assists for 77 factors by means of 82 video games and hasn’t misplaced his spot within the NHL since then, turning himself right into a famous person within the course of. In the 2018-19 season, he exploded, scoring 50 targets and including 55 assists for 105 factors by means of 82 video games. He broke his personal report final season and hit a career-high 128 factors in 80 video games. The 128-point marketing campaign was his fourth recording at the very least 100 factors in a season.
Throughout his NHL profession, Draisaitl has maintained a point-per-game common of 1.17 and has scored 325 targets and added 462 assists for 787 factors by means of 675 video games. He has turn into one of many Oilers’ finest gamers in latest historical past and should go down as top-of-the-line to ever play for the group. He has additionally confirmed himself to be a implausible performer within the postseason, having scored 31 targets and including 46 assists for 77 factors by means of 49 playoff video games.
Draisaitl Isn’t Going Anywhere
I discover Spector even tossing out the concept Draisaitl goes to think about leaving the Oilers when his contract is over to be absurd. While anyone might be traded — as we’ve seen over time with the well-known Wayne Gretzky deal — I doubt the Oilers make the identical mistake twice and quit a franchise famous person. If there may be any doubt Draisaitl would re-sign, the Oilers might commerce him for a large haul, however I simply don’t see a world the place Draisaitl performs for one more crew apart from the Oilers.
Draisaitl does have leverage in his contract negotiations as he might be an unrestricted free agent, however there isn’t a cause to consider he needs out of Edmonton at present. Hopefully, the Oilers can get him locked up before later and followers can cease speculating on whether or not he’s going to depart.
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