Oilers President Sheds New Light on Draisaitl's Contract Talks Amidst Media

PUBLICATION

Sam Jones
June 27, 2024 (4:52 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

Today, Oilers President Jeff Jackson, acting as interim General Manager, provided critical updates on Leon Draisaitl's contract situation.

Directly challenging recent media narratives. In a strategic move, Jackson emphasized the importance of appointing a new General Manager before diving deep into contract negotiations.

«We need to have our GM, before we getting into the meat of that (Draisaitl contract extension). I'm assuming they (Draisaitl's camp) will want to know how the GM is and what their plan is»

Contrary to pressing reports, Jackson conveyed a calm stance regarding the urgency of signing Draisaitl to an extension before the season's onset. He expressed confidence in securing Draisaitl's signature, noting that negotiations could extend up to a year, with a potential deal closure hinted for July 15th.

The narrative presented by Jackson starkly opposes insights from analysts like Frank Seravalli and Chris Johnston, who suggested earlier discussions were underway and even floated the possibility of trading Draisaitl if an extension wasn't agreed upon next season.

Edmonton is not inclined to let [Draisaitl] simply play out the final year of his contract... Trying to get him extended is considered a «massive priority» for the Oilers at the outset of this offseason, but they'll pivot if he shows any reluctance to commit. They've got some wiggle room to trade Draisaitl, if it comes to that, since his contract includes a 10-team trade list alongside a no-movement clause.

Chris Johnston, The Athletic
Jackson's confident remarks today have rekindled hopes among Oilers fans for sustained Stanley Cup contention, positioning Draisaitl's re-signing as a likely, albeit not urgent, conclusion to the offseason drama.

Source: Jason Gregor

Jeff Jackson speaks on Draisaitl's contract status.