NHL Rumor Mill – March 28, 2024
What could it cost the Oilers to re-sign Leon Draisaitl? Could Jake Guentzel return to the Penguins this summer as a free agent? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
HOW MUCH FOR THE OILERS TO RE-SIGN DRAISAITL?
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports it’s all quiet regarding a contract extension for Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. He has a year remaining on his contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy and a three-time 50-goal scorer, Draisaitl is the league’s best bargain at $8.5 million annually.
Matheson believes there are two ways Draisaitl could go if he wants to stay with the Oilers. One is a four-year deal like Auston Matthews signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, giving him room for another contract at age 32. The other is an eight-year deal like Nathan MacKinnon signed with the Colorado Avalanche, though Matheson doubts the Oilers will get Draisaitl for under $13 million annually.
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).
The Oilers can’t let Draisaitl depart as a free agent next summer. They’ll want to know if he intends to stay in Edmonton beyond 2024-25. Matheson speculates the Boston Bruins would move heaven and earth to get Draisaitl.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matheson believes Draisaitl wants to stay in Edmonton with Connor McDavid and help the Oilers become a winner. It will be expensive regardless of the length of his next deal.
The good news is the Oilers have a projected cap space of $39.3 million for 2025-26. The bad news is they only have eight active roster players under contract. Draisaitl could seek between $14 million and $15 million annually.
I believe the Oilers will pay Draisaitl handsomely if he wants to stay. Maybe he’ll leave some money on the table to stay long-term with the Oilers. Still, it will take a hefty chunk out of their cap payroll.
The Oilers face a stark choice if they and the Draisaitl camp fail to work out an extension. Keep Draisaitl for one more season, turning his situation into an unnecessary distraction, and let him walk away next summer. Or trade him, hurting the Oilers’ skilled depth in the short term and potentially casting McDavid’s future with the franchise in doubt.
COULD JAKE GUENTZEL RETURN WITH THE PENGUINS?
TRIBLIVE.COM: Tim Benz reports Jake Guentzel said he intended to sign a contract extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, he believed management felt it better to go a different way, leading to his trade to the Carolina Hurricanes.
“My intention was to stay, but they just thought there was a better direction to go a different way,” said Guentzel. “It’s out of my hands. It’s not my choice.”
Guentzel wasn’t sure if he would return to the Penguins this summer as a free agent. “I don’t know. That’s…I don’t know,” he said. “We’ll just see how this year goes. And I really like it in Carolina.”
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas disagreed with Guentzel’s assessment.
“He’s entitled to his opinion, especially in this market, to give his opinion,” said Dubas. “I’m sorry that it ended up being Jake as the one whose contract was up at the time…that’s how he feels about it. Especially after a game, competitors like Jake are emotional. He’s entitled to how he feels, and I don’t take umbrage at all.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been some speculation out of Pittsburgh suggesting Guentzel might return to the Penguins this summer. Based on those comments, it could be a remote possibility. We’ll see how things shake out between now and July 1.
Dubas created another Hyman situation for himself
Dubas lol… how would you like Guentzel to read into it… you didnt want to sign him- you pretty much made it known leading up to the deadline that you wouldnt pay him…so… you went in another direction….that is all he said.
Seems like a lot of people are misunderstanding Dubas intentions over the last year- or may they are just telling the truth…
if you intended to stay competitive you should have kept Guentzel and maybe had the foresight to not trade for Karlsson – who was much older and a duplication of Letang…
That was just 8 months ago – not 2 years ago- you couldnt see this scenario….really ….
what a terrible piece of management..
This seems like a bunch of noise about nothing other than PIT need to go another route, or maybe the ask by Guentzel and his agent was more, or for longer than made sense for the Pens.
Just the way it works, for plenty of guys, on plenty of teams, every single year.
Not only how did Dubas not see it coming, how did Guentzel not see it coming? This has been obvious for months.
He’ll get over it, move on, as will the Pens.
Rumor – Penguins offered Jake Guentzel 6 years 50 million contact (8.33 per season). Guentzel declined this contract. Aftermath Guentzel traded.
If true, that seems like a reasonable offer Speed Kills.
Guentzel is a very good player, but it also safe to assume his production won’t be the same elsewhere if he isn’t playing with a C of Sid’s caliber.
Karlsson was born May 31st 1990 making him 34 years old this summer.
Letang was born April 24th 1987 making him 37 in a month.
This information is readily available on the internet!
I can’t see Edmonton trading Draisaitle hurting their skilled depth. Sure you won’t get a player back as good as Draisaitle but a hockey trade must be available to bring in multiple skilled players to increase the rosters depth.
There are struggling teams out there who may be willing to give practically anyone off their roster plus to obtain a proven 50 goal scorer.
It all depends on what Dubas said, if as in the comments I have a hard time seeing him resigning. But if Dubas said that he did this for the team and gave a handshake on a new contract, its a different story.
However if I was Guentzel I would look elsewhere, Vancouver comes to mind, or Carolina for that matter if he likes it. Since Pittsburgh arent going anywhere
Why would Guentzel want to go back to Pittsburgh! He and Crosby cannot save that organization,especially with that GM. He would best wasting the most profitable years in his career!The Penguins owner will cut costs before he opens his checkbook! Just look at what hehas done to the Boston Red Sox!
The Oilers’ situation kinda reminds me of the Penguins’ situation years ago – what to do with Malkin? I can’t remember the timeline but I don’t think they had won a cup with that group yet, and there was some talk about trading him to fill out the roster.
Re; Leon Draisaitl
Word in Edmonton and the Circle
Leon wants to stay in Edmonton with Connor McDavid, Leon is more than likly coming in at $12.5M on an 8 year deal, = $100M ❗️
Its no Secret that these two are Very Tight & like Edmonton, they are everywhere together with there girlfriends They both know the cap is a big challenge, for the Oil, by the time #97 sign’s up in two years time, the cap could be at $92Mto $94M range
They know they need cash to saround them self with good players, they have a good d with Bouchard 23 yrs, Broberg 22 yrs coming up and will play a top 4 role with Elkholm & they have some good young forwards coming and Skinner will be a top 10 Goaltender for the Next 10 Years
I see Connor McDavid signing his deal for $13M for 8 years =$104M
they make more money outside promoting stuff than there Salarys 🤔
I do not see McDavid signing for less than Austin Matthews!
McDavis 15.5 m and Draisaitl 14.5 with the cap going up. Why would they take less and both on 8 year deals. Draisaitl already took a sweetheart deal with Edmonton.