Per top hockey insider Elliotte Friedman, the Edmonton Oilers have extended Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year deal in the range of $14 million annually - the highest AAV in NHL history.
This is a massive deal, which the team could do unburdened by the salaries of Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway who are now members of the St. Louis Blues after successful offer sheets.
This is the first major extension for the Edmonton Oilers, who will need to lock down franchise defenseman Evan Bouchard this season as well, and the NHL's best player in Connor McDavid in the 2025-26 season.
At $14 million annually, this will make Leon Draisaitl the highest paid player in NHL history, usurping Auston Matthews' four-year deal with an $13.25 million annual average value, and surpassing Nathan Mackinnon's eight-year $100.8 million deal ($12.6 million annually).
He, however, will likely not hold this title for long as teammate Connor McDavid will deservedly earn more than Draisaitl on his next deal next year.
The Edmonton Oilers are going all in on their stars - whether or not it will result in a Stanley Cup is yet to be known.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 3 | 206 ANSWERS Leon Draisaitl officially becomes the highest paid player in NHL history with mind-boggling extension Do you think the Edmonton Oilers will be able to extend both Evan Bouchard and Connor McDavid? | ||
| Yes | 109 | 52.9 % |
| No | 97 | 47.1 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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HIER
26 OCTOBRE 2025
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| B | P | PTS | ||
| William Eklund | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Brock Boeser | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Macklin Celebrini | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Brock Faber | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Kirill Kaprizov | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Simon Nemec | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Blake Coleman | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Leon Draisaitl | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Jack Hughes | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Kiefer Sherwood | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Brandon Hagel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ryan Hartman | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Nazem Kadri | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jack Roslovic | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Marco Rossi | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Mikael Backlund | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Conor Garland | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Josh Morrissey | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Jason Robertson | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Joel Armia | 1 | - | 1 | |
| STATS COMPLÈTES | ||||
| 2025-2026 CLASSEMENT LNH | ||||||
| PJ | V | D | DP | PTS | ||
| Canadiens | 10 | 7 | 3 | - | 14 | |
| Red Wings | 9 | 6 | 3 | - | 12 | |
| Panthers | 10 | 5 | 5 | - | 10 | |
| Sabres | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 | |
| Senators | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 | |
| Maple Leafs | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 | |
| Lightning | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 8 | |
| Bruins | 10 | 4 | 6 | - | 8 | |
| PJ | V | D | DP | PTS | ||
| Devils | 9 | 8 | 1 | - | 16 | |
| Penguins | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 13 | |
| Hurricanes | 8 | 6 | 2 | - | 12 | |
| Capitals | 9 | 6 | 3 | - | 12 | |
| Islanders | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
| Flyers | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
| Blue Jackets | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 8 | |
| Rangers | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 8 | |
| PJ | V | D | DP | PTS | ||
| Mammoth | 10 | 8 | 2 | - | 16 | |
| Avalanche | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 14 | |
| Jets | 9 | 6 | 3 | - | 12 | |
| Stars | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 11 | |
| Blackhawks | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 10 | |
| Predators | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 10 | |
| Wild | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 8 | |
| Blues | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | |
| PJ | V | D | DP | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 13 | |
| Kraken | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 12 | |
| Kings | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 11 | |
| Oilers | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 10 | |
| Canucks | 10 | 5 | 5 | - | 10 | |
| Ducks | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
| Sharks | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 6 | |
| Flames | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 5 | |
CLASSEMENT COMPLET | ||||||