Leon Draisaitl says he wants to be an 含羞草研究社淥iler for life.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淚 have a hard time picturing myself in a different jersey,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 $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含羞草研究社檚.

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

含羞草研究社淐ertainly, there含羞草研究社檚 going to be challenges in the future,含羞草研究社� Bowman said of the team含羞草研究社檚 need to stay under the salary-cap ceiling and lock down all three players.

含羞草研究社淏ut, that含羞草研究社檚 for us to figure out down the road.含羞草研究社�

Bowman said that players like Draisaitl are simply irreplaceable, so that含羞草研究社檚 why the deal was his 含羞草研究社渢op priority含羞草研究社� since he was hired earlier this summer.

含羞草研究社淧layers like Leon are special.含羞草研究社� said Bowman. 含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 not many people in the world who can play hockey like he does. There含羞草研究社檚 no way we can ever replace what Leon brings to the table. He含羞草研究社檚 a huge part of our team; he has been and will continue to be.含羞草研究社�

Draisaitl signed an eight-year, US$68 million contract extension in August 2017 that carried an annual average cap hit of $8.5 million 含羞草研究社� and quickly turned into one of the NHL含羞草研究社檚 bargains 含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a fine line and I think that含羞草研究社檚 where negotiations normally probably get to a standstill and it doesn含羞草研究社檛 go any further,含羞草研究社� said Draisaitk. 含羞草研究社淲e know you can含羞草研究社檛 win with two-, three- or four-man rosters. It含羞草研究社檚 just not possible in this league. This league含羞草研究社檚 too good. I含羞草研究社檓 very happy it含羞草研究社檚 done 含羞草研究社� and I can focus on playing my game and continuing to get better and play my best hockey, especially when it matters most.含羞草研究社�

Draisaitl is hopeful his extension will lead to a long-term deal for McDavid, keeping the NHL含羞草研究社檚 top one-two punch together for years to come.

含羞草研究社淐onnor含羞草研究社檚 going to do what含羞草研究社檚 best for him, right? That含羞草研究社檚 just the way this works,含羞草研究社� said Draisaitl. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 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.含羞草研究社�

But, does being the new highest-paid player in the NHL put a target on Draisaitl含羞草研究社檚 back? Will it make him grip his stick more tightly in the coming years?

含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 know about the word, 含羞草研究社榩ressure.含羞草研究社� I think it含羞草研究社檚 a responsibility more so than pressure, maybe. I含羞草研究社檓 aware of my responsibility, I含羞草研究社檓 aware of the commitment that (owner Daryl Katz) and the entire Oilers organization has given me. It含羞草研究社檚 my time to give that back in a way, right? I含羞草研究社檓 aware of my responsibility. Is it pressure? In certain moments, there is pressure. But, you know I含羞草研究社檓 going to get paid a lot of money to handle those moments.含羞草研究社�