Insider claims having McDavid and Draisaitl on the same team is bad for the NHL

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Finnegan Frost
September 7, 2024 (9:51)

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ESPN's Greg Wyshynski has recently made comments that are irking Oilers fans.

Its no secret that Leon Draisaitl recently signed a massive contract extension with the Oilers. The deal will carry an average annual value of $14 million AAV, making Leon the highest paid NHL player.

On the other hand, Connor McDavid is set to re-sign with the Oilers in 2025-26. While this is all fine and dandy for Oilers fans, the American media claims that having both superstars on the same team long-term will only hurt the league.

While many view the deal as a win for the Oilers, Wyshynski expressed concerns over the broader impact on the NHL, particularly regarding league parity, as highlighted in his ESPN story. Wyshynski claims that both players staying in Edmonton makes the NHL "loser".

"Here's the section that's going to irk Oilers fans the most, but let's be real," Wyshynski wrote. "Draisaitl re-signing means it's likely that two of the top five players in the NHL could be tethered to Alberta through 2033."

According to Wyshynsk, having Leon and Connor playing in a city like Edmonton reduces the overall exposure to larger NHL markets. He claims that having two superstars stuck in Alberta long-term only hurts the NHL in the grand scheme of things.

«Not New York or Chicago. Not Boston or Detroit. Not Toronto. Not Los Angeles... Edmonton. It's not just about the city in which they play. It's having two megastars on the same team in that city, rather than anchoring their own rosters among the league's other 31 (for now) teams."

The Oilers now have two of the NHL's best players-Draisaitl and Connor McDavid-locked in for the foreseeable future, assuming McDavid inks his own long-term extension once he is able to do so on July 1, 2025.

Wyshynsk is throwing massive shade towards Edmonton and the overall market here. Obviously, Edmonton is not LA or NYC... but the Oilers have proven to be the most entertaining and electric team in modern day hockey.

The Edmonton Oilers also have the most ESPN prime time games next season out of any other Canadian team. If ESPN is so worried about the NHL fading away because Leon and Connor are locked in with the Oilers, they will have to find alternative ways to market the Oilers to American viewers.

source: Athlon Sports
Insider: Leon Draisaitl & Connor McDavid in Edmonton Make NHL 'Loser'