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Leon Draisaitl's Contract Reflects the Unique Culture of the Edmonton Oilers
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    Leon Draisaitl’s Contract Reflects the Unique Culture of the Edmonton Oilers

    EDMONTON — Body language. It’s always been a bit of a thing for Leon Draisaitl, as he’s admitted many times.

    “I always, obviously, wear my heart on my sleeve,” he said Tuesday, a nod to that on the day he signed on to “hopefully be an (Edmonton) Oiler for life.”

    So let’s put away the tells and press box impressions for a while, and talk about what we know to be 100 per cent true:

    Draisaitl, a top-four player in the world, just signed on to finish his career in Edmonton, all but ensuring that the No. 1 player in the world will do the same thing a year from now.

    Edmonton, the town that great players once came to leave, is now the place where great players wish to stay.

    It’s quite a transformation, really.

    “Obviously we haven’t gotten the job done yet. Which makes it, to me, even more special. Like, we’re going to do this together,” Draisaitl began on Tuesday, the day the Oilers announced he had signed an eight-year contract with an annual average value of $14 million.

    They’ve built a true team here. One that can overcome the weather, the geography, and the fishbowl that is playing for a Canadian contender.

    Today, players’ wives no longer forbade them to sign here. Now, with a proper culture fully installed, the opposite is true.

    “We’ve created friendships over the last couple of years. Our wives, fiancees, girlfriends have created friendships — like forever, lasting friendships — over the last couple of years. And that’s really, really special,” Draisaitl said. “Our main priority is to win, of course. You can ask Connor, Darnell, Nuge, (Zach Hyman) — we all want to win. But I think what we’ve created off the ice is almost just as important.

    “People want to come here, and when they do come, it’s hard for them to leave now. And I think we’ve created that over the last couple years, and that’s something that we’re really, really proud of.

    “But the main priority is to win the Stanley Cup.”

    If you can read those words and still think that Connor McDavid is going to sign anywhere else but Edmonton, you truly are delusional.

    Draisaitl stayed because he loves the culture and he can’t find another place with a better chance to win. McDavid sets that culture in Edmonton, and when his lieutenants sign on for eight years as we’ve seen in Edmonton, the captain will not be far behind.

    The jealous will say that signing your second best player for $14 million makes it impossible to build a winner. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman would reply, and we paraphrase, that whatever questions exist around building a Stanley Cup contender around two legit superstars, divesting yourself of Leon Draisaitl is never going to be a viable answer.

    “There aren’t many people in the world that can play hockey like he does,” Bowman said. “There’s no way we could replace what Leon brings to the table.

    “We’ll figure the other stuff out down the road, but right now we’re just thrilled he’s with us.”

    Draisaitl is, on rough average, a 50-goal 100-point centreman whose playoff production is impeccable — injured or healthy.

    In the past five post seasons, he has averaged 1.51 points per game — behind only McDavid’s 1.71. Auston Matthews, the game’s best goal scorer, is at 1.00. Draisaitl’s Oilers have played in nine playoff series in the past three years, winning six of them.

    In the past six regular seasons, the big German sits second in NHL points (107 per season), second in goals (averages 45), and third in assists (averages 62). His faceoff percentage over that time is 54 per cent.

    He falls somewhere behind McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon in the pantheon of NHL superstars, an equal to Nikita Kucherov and Matthews, and somewhere above the rest.

    And ask folks in Winnipeg or Calgary: when you are Edmonton, and a player of this stature wishes to finish his career there, you have a contract ready by end of day for him to sign.

    “I love nothing more than wearing that jersey,” Draisaitl said.

    So he took marginally less than he could have commanded, to leave some cap space with which to pay everyone else.

    “It’s a fine line, and that’s where negotiations get to a standstill,” said Draisaitl, who turns 29 on Oct. 27 and has nine seasons left as an Oiler. “But … we know you can’t win with two-, three-, four-man rosters. This league’s too good.”

    There is only two things left now: a McDavid signature, and a Stanley Cup. Perhaps not in that order.

    “Connor’s going to do what’s, what’s best for him. I did what I thought was best for me personally,” Draisaitl said. “Do I hope that Connor follows along? I’d be lying if I said no.”

    One down, the other on the tee.

    It’s a good day in Edmonton. Now, for a better one.

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    Draisaitl hoping to be an ‘Oiler for life’ after signing long-term extension

    The Edmonton Oilers made headlines recently with their decision to sign star forward Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year, $68 million contract extension. This move not only solidifies Draisaitl as a key player for the team for years to come, but also reflects the unique culture of the Oilers organization.

    Draisaitl, a 21-year-old native of Germany, has quickly become one of the top young talents in the NHL. He finished last season with 77 points in 82 games, and played a crucial role in helping the Oilers reach the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. His combination of size, skill, and hockey IQ make him a valuable asset for the team, and locking him up long-term was a priority for the Oilers front office.

    But beyond Draisaitl’s on-ice abilities, his contract also speaks to the culture that has been established in Edmonton under the leadership of general manager Peter Chiarelli and head coach Todd McLellan. The Oilers have made a concerted effort in recent years to build a team that is not only talented, but also cohesive and committed to winning.

    This commitment to building a winning culture was evident in the team’s decision to sign captain Connor McDavid to an eight-year, $100 million contract extension earlier this summer. McDavid, who won the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP last season, is widely regarded as one of the best players in the NHL, and locking him up long-term was a no-brainer for the Oilers.

    By signing both McDavid and Draisaitl to long-term contracts, the Oilers have sent a clear message to their fans, their players, and the rest of the league that they are serious about building a championship-caliber team. This commitment to winning has been reflected in the team’s recent success on the ice, and has helped to reinvigorate a fan base that had grown frustrated with years of mediocrity.

    In addition to their on-ice success, the Oilers have also made strides off the ice in recent years. The team moved into a new state-of-the-art arena, Rogers Place, in 2016, and has made efforts to engage with fans through community events and social media. This focus on building a strong connection with their fan base has helped to create a sense of excitement and optimism around the team that had been missing for years.

    Overall, Leon Draisaitl’s contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers is not just a reflection of his talent as a player, but also of the unique culture that has been established within the organization. By signing Draisaitl to a long-term deal, the Oilers have shown that they are committed to building a winning team both on and off the ice, and have set themselves up for success in the years to come.