The National Hockey League will have a new highest-paid player for three seasons in a row.
Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl agreed to an eight-year, $112 million extension on Tuesday that will give him a $14 million cap hit when the deal kicks in during the 2025-26 season. That will move him past Auston Matthews’ four-year, $53 million contract ($13.25 million cap hit) that takes effect this season.
Matthews’ deal surpassed Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6 million cap hit, which took effect last season. Before that, Oilers star Connor McDavid ($12.5 million) had the top average annual salary.
Draisaitl was considered vastly underpaid in his current contract, which averages $8.5 million and expires this season.
Draisaitl, 28, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2014 draft, has the second-most points in the NHL since he became a regular in the 2015-16 season. His 841 points trail only McDavid (982). His 145 power-play goals leads all scorers during that time.
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In the playoffs, his 1.46 points per game is second behind McDavid’s 1.58.
Draisaitl was voted the Hart Trophy as MVP to his team in 2019-20 and helped the Oilers reach Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last season.
New general manager Stan Bowman said after his July hiring that signing Draisaitl was his top priority. He had to delay when the St. Louis Blues made offer sheets to forward Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg. Bowman ended up not matching the offers and letting those players go.
McDavid’s contract runs out after the 2025-26 season and he almost certainly would pass Draisaitl’s figure in his next deal.
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