Leon Draisaitl says he wants to be an 香蕉视频直播淥iler for life.香蕉视频直播�

The star forward took a big step towards that goal by signing an eight-year contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers. The deal, announced Tuesday has an average annual value of US$14 million, the highest in NHL history.

香蕉视频直播淚 have a hard time picturing myself in a different jersey,香蕉视频直播� said Draisaitl, who scored 41 goals and added 65 assists for 106 points in 81 regular-season games last season.

He added another 10 goals and 21 assists through 25 playoff games, helping propel Edmonton to its first Stanley Cup final appearance since 2006.

He was set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Draisaitl香蕉视频直播檚 deal is just the first of three major targets general manager Stan Bowman needs to tackle in the next couple of years. Defenceman Evan Bouchard香蕉视频直播檚 $3.9 million bridge deal ends after this season, positioning him for a significant raise.

And, after this season, negotiations can begin with three-time MVP Connor McDavid, who is likely to command a contract that surpasses Draisaitl香蕉视频直播檚.

McDavid is currently on a deal that pays him $12.5 million per season, and expires at the end of the 2025-26 season.

香蕉视频直播淐ertainly, there香蕉视频直播檚 going to be challenges in the future,香蕉视频直播� Bowman said of the team香蕉视频直播檚 need to stay under the salary-cap ceiling and lock down all three players.

香蕉视频直播淏ut, that香蕉视频直播檚 for us to figure out down the road.香蕉视频直播�

Bowman said that players like Draisaitl are simply irreplaceable, so that香蕉视频直播檚 why the deal was his 香蕉视频直播渢op priority香蕉视频直播� since he was hired earlier this summer.

香蕉视频直播淧layers like Leon are special.香蕉视频直播� said Bowman. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 not many people in the world who can play hockey like he does. There香蕉视频直播檚 no way we can ever replace what Leon brings to the table. He香蕉视频直播檚 a huge part of our team; he has been and will continue to be.香蕉视频直播�

Draisaitl signed an eight-year, US$68 million contract extension in August 2017 that carried an annual average cap hit of $8.5 million 香蕉视频直播� and quickly turned into one of the NHL香蕉视频直播檚 bargains 香蕉视频直播� that expires after the 2024-25 season.

The 28-year-old centre has 347 goals and 503 assists for 850 points in 719 regular-season games since getting selected third overall at the 2014 NHL draft.

With those eye-popping numbers, some GMs might even see the $14-million annual cap hit as a bargain. Draisaitl acknowledged the balance between maximizing his earnings and leaving the team some flexibility to build for another Cup run.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a fine line and I think that香蕉视频直播檚 where negotiations normally probably get to a standstill and it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 go any further,香蕉视频直播� said Draisaitk. 香蕉视频直播淲e know you can香蕉视频直播檛 win with two-, three- or four-man rosters. It香蕉视频直播檚 just not possible in this league. This league香蕉视频直播檚 too good. I香蕉视频直播檓 very happy it香蕉视频直播檚 done 香蕉视频直播� and I can focus on playing my game and continuing to get better and play my best hockey, especially when it matters most.香蕉视频直播�

Draisaitl is hopeful his extension will lead to a long-term deal for McDavid, keeping the NHL香蕉视频直播檚 top one-two punch together for years to come.

香蕉视频直播淐onnor香蕉视频直播檚 going to do what香蕉视频直播檚 best for him, right? That香蕉视频直播檚 just the way this works,香蕉视频直播� said Draisaitl. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 supposed to work that way. I did what I thought was best for me, personally. Do I hope that Connor follows along? I would be lying if I said no. Of course I want him to stay on board. I want all our pieces to stay on board.香蕉视频直播�

But, does being the new highest-paid player in the NHL put a target on Draisaitl香蕉视频直播檚 back? Will it make him grip his stick more tightly in the coming years?

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 know about the word, 香蕉视频直播榩ressure.香蕉视频直播� I think it香蕉视频直播檚 a responsibility more so than pressure, maybe. I香蕉视频直播檓 aware of my responsibility, I香蕉视频直播檓 aware of the commitment that (owner Daryl Katz) and the entire Oilers organization has given me. It香蕉视频直播檚 my time to give that back in a way, right? I香蕉视频直播檓 aware of my responsibility. Is it pressure? In certain moments, there is pressure. But, you know I香蕉视频直播檓 going to get paid a lot of money to handle those moments.香蕉视频直播�