Leon Draisaitl kicks off the unofficial start of the 24-25 season by signing an eight-year contract extension with an AAV of $14 million with the Edmonton Oilers, which effectively ends all rumors about the centerman joining the San Jose Sharks in free agency in 2025.
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Draisaitl has signed the biggest contract in NHL history. It is frontloaded and carries a full no-move clause for the entire duration of the deal.
🔒 LEON’S LOCKED IN 🔒
The #Oilers have signed forward Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year contract extension beginning in 2025-26 with an average annual value of $14 million. pic.twitter.com/wERUyneHA7
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 3, 2024
During the Stanley Cup Playoffs and early into the offseason, reports and rumors suggested that the Sharks would be interested in signing Draisaitl should he have become a UFA. There were rumors that Draisaitl shared a mutual interest, but nothing was proven.
The German connection between Draisaitl and Sharks owner Hasso Plattner was at the forefront.
Related: Is Leon Draisaitl To The Sharks Actually Possible?
San Jose has spent the offseason building the team back from last place in the NHL, and while the Sharks aren’t in playoff contention, adding a superstar like Draisaitl would be the centerpiece to everything GM Mike Grier created.
Adding a top-five player in the world to the team would boost the Sharks’ budding core of young guns closer to Stanley Cup contention.
After this season, the Oilers will have another big contract extension to work on as their captain and the NHL’s best player, Connor McDavid, becomes eligible for a pay raise.
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