Trouble with McD?

I guess it's time for me to laugh aloud.

Here are some things that WILL happen in Edmonton this year;

1) One of Benning or Nurse will earn a top 4 role on the team, at first because of Sekera's injury, but later because Russell is terrible (and I see you agree with that from the buyout). With both becoming RFA, at least one of them is likely to get more than 2 mill per on deals that are longer than two years.

2) Maroon and Letestu will have strong enough years as role players that they'll be able to cash in somewhere as UFA's. The Oil won't be able to afford to keep them.

3) The Oiler brass are going to want to give Strome every opportunity to succeed, meaning he'll likely be centered by either McDavid or Draisaitl. If it's McDavid there's no way his next contract is under 4.5 mill.

4) Unless Leon chooses to give a team-friendly discount, his cap hit will be higher than 7.5 mill. You can point to Tarasenko or others around 7.5 as comparables, but they signed those deals in previous years when the cap was lower, and Leon just put up a point per game through the regular season and playoffs. The dude's agent won't be giving a huge discount, even if his numbers are inflated by the 'McJesus effect'. The only way they agree to a 7.5 mill cap hit is on a shorter term so he can cash in on the next contract.

i can get on board with 1,2 and 3, but i cannot agree with Drai making more than 7.5. hes proved nothing, has much lower comparables and literally has no leverage. someone wants to offersheet him more, then take your 4 first rounders and run. any team that can afford $9/10M drai wont have a good first rounder for the next few years

Agreed. Tarasenko / Gaudreau / others put up similar or better numbers than Draisaitl did last year, and they weren't being zoomed by the best offensive threat in the league. I'd be happiest with a 3-year bridge deal: the Oilers need Draisaitl to prove he can drive his own line for more than a handful of (wonderful) games against the Ducks. Three x $6MM, then lets talk about $9MM x 8. People are comparing him to Kopitar and Malkin, but he hasn't proved to be at that level yet.