NHL Rumor Mill – March 28, 2024
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.
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.