The Edmonton Oilers have locked in Leon Draisaitl with a massive eight-year, $112 million deal.
This contract means Draisaitl will earn $14 million each season, setting a new record for the highest salary cap hit in the NHL. This surpasses Auston Matthews’ previous high of $13.25 million.
In his first year under this new deal, 2025-26, Draisaitl will take home $16.5 million. This makes him the highest-paid player in actual salary terms for that year, even though the cap hit is averaged over the contract’s length. The difference between salary cap and real dollars can be confusing but is crucial here.
Impact on NHL Salaries:
This contract shows how NHL salaries lag behind other major sports leagues despite recent increases. Fans might wonder if this trend will continue or if we’ll see more players getting big paydays soon.
Sometimes it feels like hockey players are undervalued compared to athletes in other sports! What do you think?
