Photo credit: Hockeypatrol Edit

The Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl officially became the highest paid player in the NHL with new long-term contract.

After months of rumors, Leon Draisailt finally agreed on the terms of a massive extension deal with the Oilers.

He signed an eight-year contract with a $14M AAV, surpassing Auston Matthews’ $13.25M AAV contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Draisaitl, undoubtedly one of the best players in the NHL, spent the past seven seasons being paid a lot less than what he brought to the Oilers.

His previous contract, which is set to end after the 2024-25 season, earned him $8M AAV, which is not a lot for a player who scored over 100 points per seasons five times in the past six years. He also contributed a lot during the playoffs, scoring over 30 points two times in the past three years.

With Connor McDavid set to become a free agent in two seasons, he should sign an even bigger deal in Edmonton. It would be surprising to see him sign for less money than Draisaitl, as even if they’re a dynamic duo, McDavid is in his own category.

Also, he opted for a long-term contract, which could hurt him financially in the end.

With the salary cap set to go up even more in the coming years, a player like Auston Matthews, who’s entering the first year of his four-season deal at $13.25M AAV, will likely sign for more money when he returns to free agency. Then, he could earn a lot more than Draisaitl, even if the two players bring the same kind of contributions to their respective teams.

More to come.