Best value contract model for best player in the world to follow

With all the headlines of late about McDavid's and Kaprisov's pending-extensions, and seeing how their new deals will set salary benchmarks in the NHL, Draisaitl's $14M AAV has suddenly become a team-very friendly contract.

Yet, in the midst of all these pending-contracts is another superstar, whose importance to his team is equally important as Connor McDavid's, and Karprisov's to Minnesota, but whose current top-NHL salary is being viewed as a steal.

Krill Kaprisov, though a star in is own right, is not as good as Leon Draisaitl, by most reports. Yet, he is set to earn is excess of $16M AAV, $2M more than Leon's. McDavid will be north of that by several more millions, when he finally agrees to sign his next deal.

Having this kind of salary-certainty with Leon Draisaitl allows Edmonton the flexibility to acquire complementary players, depth signings that help the team build a contending roster without strangling the payroll.

Leon Draisaitl is in year 1 of an 8 year contract, and what once seemed like a commitment for the Oilers, is now a gift. And though McDavid is the league's best player, Draisaitl is its best scorer. In an era where the salary will rise over three years and the Oilers being in its Cup-window, having this kind of cost-certainty in Draisaitl is a privilege.

He's also a key leverage point for the Oilers, who are counting on the fact that McDavid's best friend has committed to the team and McDavid would have to consciously leave his buddy to chase a Stanley Cup elsewhere. That's not an easy decision.

Yet, having Leon Draisaitl secured for 8-years is an obvious negotiating point for the Oilers, who can boast about having committed to building a contending roster for the foreseeable future for McDavid.

These are complex times in the NHL, which will redefine how teams negotiate contracts with its top-players, who are themselves setting trends for future players to follow.