The Edmonton Oilers are proactively moving to secure their core talent with substantial long-term contracts. NHL insider Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff reported that the Oilers are set to sign Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Evan Bouchard for a combined annual salary of $40 million. Seravalli relayed to the host of Oilers Now and the team’s color commentator, Bob Stauffer, that talks are underway.

Seravalli emphasized the urgency of these deals, stating, “The Oilers need to make hay right now because they’ve got McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard only adding up to $25 million.” He confirmed that discussions have already begun with Draisaitl’s camp, who is aiming for a long-term contract similar to McDavid’s.

Stauffer and Seravalli project the contracts to be roughly $16 million for McDavid, $14 million for Draisaitl, and $10 million for Bouchard, aligning with an expected salary cap increase to $100 million. These three would take up 40% of the team’s cap. Another chunk would be made up of Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Darnell Nurse’s deals.

Seravalli underscored the importance of keeping McDavid and Draisaitl together, calling Edmonton the only place where this duo can keep doing their thing. He noted, “This is the only place on planet Earth that both of them can play together. Where else are you going to go to play with Connor McDavid?”

Draisaitl and McDavid Have It Good In Edmonton

Despite the fact the Oilers are on the verge of elimination in the Stanley Cup Final, there’s no denying how good the Oilers are. That they are in the Final speaks to how competitive the team is. Both Draisaitl and McDavid know that finding a combination of everything they have in Edmonton and making big bucks together will be a stretch.

Seravalli also gave praise to Oilers’ owner, Daryl Katz. Seravalli likened the Oilers to the Green Bay Packers of the NHL, highlighting their financial strength despite being a small-market team. Katz’s commitment to the team has resonated with the players, with Draisaitl even referring to him as “the best owner in pro sports.”

Securing these contracts would ensure the Oilers avoid the drama that has gone along with other teams and their big stars. If Edmonton can secure long-term deals with all of their top players, the organization can build around a core that has no intention of going anywhere. They’ll have roster certainty and if Draisaitl signs, each contract that comes after should be easier to get done.

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