Leon Draisaitl will soon lose record for largest contract in NHL, and it won't be McDavid
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The Edmonton Oilers signed Leon Draisaitl to the largest contract in NHL history last offseason, but it's a record that will be soon be broken - and not by Connor McDavid.
Leon Draisaitl signed an 8 year contract with an annual salary of $14M, totalling $112M and just beating Shea Weber's contract with Nashville as the largest in NHL history. But now, an unexpected star could take the record.
Kirill Kaprizov set to overtake Leon Draisaitl for largest contract in NHL history
According to new reports from Chris Johnston on the Steve Dangle Podcast, Kirill Kaprizov could sign a contract extension this offseason at a higher number than Draisaitl.
This summer will also be the last players can sign 8 year contracts, so if Kaprizov chooses max term, he'll the largest deal in NHL history.
Kaprizov, I would be surprised if he doesn't sign in Minnesota. I believe he'll get more than Draisaitl.
He may never actually be the exact highest paid, but it wouldn't surprise me if he gets something like $15M. If he's signing, he's going to be one of these last remaining guys that gets an 8 year deal.
- Chris Johnston
He may never actually be the exact highest paid, but it wouldn't surprise me if he gets something like $15M. If he's signing, he's going to be one of these last remaining guys that gets an 8 year deal.
- Chris Johnston
Connor McDavid will have his new contract extension kick in the same season, and he'll have a higher salary than Kaprizov - but there's very little belief that McDavid is willing to sign a long term contract. Oilers fans would love to lock him up 8 years, but it doesn't seem like an option on the table.
The Minnesota Wild haven't had a player of Kaprizov's calibre in years, and with the cap rapidly rising are clearly comfortable paying to keep their homegrown star.
The rising salary cap is going to cause some major sticker shock in new player salaries in the next few years, if it hasn't begun already. The Oilers were lucky to lock in Draisaitl when they did, and to have him in Edmonton for his whole career.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 16 | 310 ANSWERS Leon Draisaitl will soon lose record for largest contract in NHL, and it won't be McDavid Do you think Kaprizov should get $15M from the Minnesota Wild? | ||
| Fair | 60 | 19.4 % |
| Overpay | 250 | 80.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
