BREAKING NEWS: Will Draisaitl Receive More Than Auston Matthews in His Oilers Contract?

Will Auston Matthews’ contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs be less than Leon Draisaitl’s with the Edmonton Oilers?

One of the main concerns as the Edmonton Oilers get ready for the upcoming season and beyond is the top forward Leon Draisaitl’s contract extension. Draisaitl is one of the league’s most dominant players after playing for several seasons on a team-friendly contract; his next contract should reflect his elite status. The main concerns are whether Draisaitl can demand a pay package higher than the league-leading $13.25 million annual budget hit of Auston Matthews and whether he would accept a hometown discount to remain with the Oilers.

Frankie Corrado stressed during a discussion about Draisaitl’s next contract on TSN that the Oilers player should receive a sizable increase. Given Draisaitl’s consistently excellent play—he has scored 50 goals three times and accumulated over 100 points in five seasons—his new contract is expected to begin at Matthews’ $13.25 million salary and maybe go higher.

Who gets a better contract between Auston Matthews and Leon Draisaitl?
When questioned about whether Draisaitl’s contract ought to be increased, Corrado said:

“It really ought to. And this is how the league functions. The salary cap will increase, certain players’ contracts will expire, and Leon Draisaitl will receive a sizable rise. His salary is $13.25 to begin with, and it goes up from there.

What Is The Value of Draisaitl? To What Extinction Over Matthews?
It’s inevitable to draw comparisons to other elite NHL contracts. Although Connor McDavid’s $12.5 million contract and Nathan MacKinnon’s recent $12.6 million contract set precedents, Draisaitl’s worth is expected to surpass these amounts due to the cap rising. Although he won’t hold the title for very long, the fact that he will for one season speaks something about the Oilers’ perception of him.

It’s a balancing act for them to manage their budgetary restraints and show Draisaitl that they mean business by wanting to keep him.