Edmonton Oilers show class with the handling of Leon Draisaitl's contract following the Gaudreau tragedy
The Edmonton Oilers pulled a classy move with the Leon Draisaitl contract amid the tragedy of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew.
This morning was fantastic for Edmonton Oilers fans as they learned that Leon Draisaitl has signed an eight-year contract. However, the deal was actually finalized late last week.
According to NHL insider Andy Strickland, the Oilers and Draisaitl reached an agreement earlier in the week. The team chose to delay the announcement out of respect for the tragic passing of the Gaudreau brothers.
It was a classy move by the Oilers and the NHL media to hold off on reporting Draisaitl's contract to allow the hockey community time to mourn Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were fatally struck by a drunk driver on the night of August 29th. While no amount of time can fully heal the loss, it's commendable that the Oilers waited a few days.
News of Draisaitl's record-setting contract extension has made it a great day to be an Oilers fan. At $14 million annually, Draisaitl will become the highest-paid player in the league, with Connor McDavid likely to follow as the next highest-paid. Reports suggest that Draisaitl's long-term deal is a sign that McDavid and Bouchard will also be signing long-term contracts soon.
With their core players locked up for the long term, the Edmonton Oilers are set to compete for the Stanley Cup every season.
Credit: OilersdailyOilers pulled classy move with Leon Draisaitl contract and Johnny Gaudreau's passing
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3 SEPTEMBRE | 71 ANSWERS Edmonton Oilers show class with the handling of Leon Draisaitl's contract following the Gaudreau tragedy Do you think the Edmonton Oilers will win the Stanley Cup next season? | ||
| Yes | 22 | 31 % |
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