Oilers' Draisaitl signs $112M contract; Livonia's Krug to undergo ankle surgery

News staff and news agencies

Leon Draisaitl had a hard time imagining himself playing in the NHL wearing anything other than the Edmonton Oilers jersey, and the result of that is a long-term commitment to the organization’s quest for the Stanley Cup as the highest-paid player in hockey.

On Tuesday, Draisaitl signed an eight-year extension worth $112 million, a deal that gives the German star the highest salary cap hit in NHL history at $14 million. The new contract, the second-highest in total dollar terms in league history, begins with the 2025-26 season and runs through 2033.

“For me, it was always the Oilers,” Draisaitl said on a video call with reporters. “Obviously, we haven’t done the job yet, which makes it even more special for me. We’re going to do this together. We’re all pulling on the same rope here. I’m excited to be a part of this and excited to keep moving forward toward the ultimate goal, and we all know what that is.”

Draisaitl’s landmark deal came just over two months after he, Connor McDavid and their teammates nearly pulled off a historic comeback in the Stanley Cup Final, erasing a 3-0 series deficit before losing to Florida by one goal in Game 7. Draisaitl had 31 points in 25 games during that stretch.

He could have become a free agent next summer. Avoiding that and getting him signed to a long-term contract was the organization’s top priority during the offseason.

“Players like Leon are special — there aren’t many people in the world who can play hockey like he does,” said general manager Stan Bowman, who was hired in late July. “There’s no way we can replace what Leon brings to the table. He’s an important part of our team, has been and will continue to be.”

Draisaitl surpasses Auston Matthews’ $13.25 million salary cap hit with this new contract, which nearly doubles his salary. Draisaitl, 28, makes $8.5 million on average under his current deal, which was signed in 2017 and became one of the most team-friendly in the league.

The contract is the largest the NHL has ever seen, second only to the $124 million, 13-year deal Alex Ovechkin signed in 2008. It comes with a salary cap that is expected to rise again in 2025-26, likely above $90 million or more as league revenue continues to grow at record levels.

“There will certainly be challenges in the future, but we’ll figure that out over time,” Bowman said. “We’ll figure out the rest of the things down the road, but for now we’re just thrilled that he’s with us.”

The big forward from Cologne has been worth every penny along the way, scoring 850 points in 719 regular-season games since making his NHL debut and being one of the leading producers in playoff history with 108 in 74. Draisaitl’s 1.46 points per game ranks fourth all-time among players with 40-plus postseason games, behind Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux and McDavid.

Draisaitl said he spoke to McDavid, with whom he has become close friends, throughout the process before signing.

“I did what I thought was best for me personally. Do I expect Connor to follow my example? I’d be lying if I said no,” Draisaitl said. “Of course I want him to stay on board.”

McDavid won the Conn Smythe Award as playoff MVP for leading all scorers with 42 points and took home the Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP three times. The face of the Edmonton franchise is eligible to sign a contract extension of his own on July 1, which is expected to include a raise for McDavid from his $12.5 million annual salary now that Draisaitl has gotten his new deal.

“Obviously, it shows that we want to win,” Bowman said when asked how this contract could impact talks with McDavid and his team. “We want to win and we’re going to do everything we can and hopefully that’s something Connor likes to hear. But the negotiation itself may or may not be different. It may be very similar. I don’t know. But I look forward to having that conversation.”

Livonia native Krug to undergo surgery

St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug (Livonia) will undergo surgery to address pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle and will miss the entire 2024-25 season.

The Blues previously announced that Krug had been diagnosed with pre-arthritic changes and said in July that he would miss the season if surgery was necessary.

Krug, 33, is in the fifth year of a seven-year, $45.5 million contract with an annual salary cap hit of $6.5 million. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026-27 season.

The 5-foot-9 left-handed defenseman recorded four goals and 39 points in 77 games last season.

St. Louis reportedly had a deal in place to send Krug to the Philadelphia Flyers last offseason but decided not to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate the deal.

Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Boston Bruins in March 2012, Krug has 89 goals and 483 points in 778 career games split between the Bruins and Blues.

Gaudreau’s fundraiser raises $560,000

More tributes are pouring in from across the hockey community following the deaths of NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, who were killed last week by a suspected drunk driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey.

Jaromir Jagr posted a video on social media Tuesday of Gaudreau assisting on his 766th and final league goal when they were teammates on the Calgary Flames in 2018.

“It was a beautiful pass, above all,” Jagr wrote in Czech. “Unfortunately, life can be incredibly cruel at times. Thank you, Johnny Gaudreau, for being here and for having given hope to all those guys with your incredible performances that they can succeed at a world-class level in the NHL like you did. My condolences to your family. May you and your brother rest in peace.”

Donations also continued to pour in to help Matthew’s widow, Madeline, who is pregnant with the couple’s first child, due in December. A GoFundMe campaign set up by Madeline’s sister, Holland Korbitz, and verified by the online fundraising company had raised more than $560,000 as of 7 p.m. EDT Tuesday.

Dozens of current and former players from around the league, or their spouses, were among the more than 7,800 donors, including $3,000 from the family of New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin and $2,013 from Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars, for a total of $567,127 — well beyond the initial goal of $30,000.

Cliff Rucker, owner of the ECHL’s Worcester Railers HC for whom Matthew played two seasons from 2017-19, is listed as the top donor at $10,000.

“Maddy, the entire Railers HC family is with you during this difficult time for you and your loved ones,” Rucker said. “You and Matty will always be a part of our Railer family, and I hope you can feel the love and support we are sending your way.”

The Gaudreau brothers were riding bicycles on a road in Oldmans Township Thursday night when a man driving an SUV in the same direction tried to pass two other vehicles and rear-ended them around 8 p.m., according to New Jersey State Police. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the driver, Sean M. Higgins, 43, was suspected of being under the influence and was charged with two counts of death by motor vehicle accident, as well as reckless driving, possession of an open container and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. On Tuesday, police said nothing else was being released about the case, including Higgins’ blood alcohol level.

There was no information immediately available about a funeral or memorial services, public or private. Wayne Gretzky said over the weekend that he, his wife Janet and their family were devastated by the senseless tragedy.

“We send our love, thoughts and prayers to the Gaudreau family,” Gretzky posted on social media. “We lost two great young men who were well-loved and had a great presence both on and off the ice. Johnny and Matthew, you will always be remembered and missed.”

Their deaths on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding, scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia, have transcended hockey. Broadcaster Bob Wischusen offered somber words about Johnny and Matthew during ESPN’s broadcast of Monday night’s college football game between Florida State and Boston College, the school the Gaudreau brothers attended and where they played hockey together for one season a decade ago.

“The entire National Hockey League, as well as the Boston College community and so many others, were devastated on Friday when we learned of the passing of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau,” Wischusen said. “Our hearts are broken and we send our best thoughts and prayers to their wives, Johnny Gaudreau’s young children, Matthew’s unborn child and all of their family and friends.”

Flames sign defender Barrie

The Calgary Flames have signed veteran defenseman Tyson Barrie to a professional tryout agreement, according to TSN Hockey Insider’s Pierre LeBrun.

The 33-year-old spent the 2023-24 season with the Nashville Predators, scoring one goal and adding 14 assists. He was in the final year of a three-year, $13.5 million contract he signed with the Edmonton Oilers in the summer of 2021.

The Predators acquired Barrie at the 2023 trade deadline in a deal that involved defenseman Mattias Ekholm.

The Victoria, BC native was selected in the third round (64th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche and played the first eight seasons of his NHL career in Denver. Barrie was then acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs prior to the 2019-20 season before signing a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers the following summer.

In 809 career regular-season games, Barrie has scored 109 goals and 396 assists for 505 points. He has also scored two goals and 19 assists in 47 career postseason games.

Breaking

Oilers’ Draisaitl signs $112M contract; Livonia’s Krug to undergo ankle surgery

ByS. Jacob

Livonia native Krug to undergo surgery

Gaudreau’s fundraiser raises $560,000

Flames sign defender Barrie

By S. Jacob

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