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On Tuesday morning, after signing an eight-year extension to stay in Edmonton, Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl and Stan Bowman, the General Manager & Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, addressed the media. Draisaitl, a German, secured his future with the club through this new contract.

Below, you can read the complete transcript and watch the entire media availability.

Bowman’s delivers his opening remarks:

Hello everyone, it’s fantastic to be here on this call today. I want to begin by expressing my excitement to announce that Leon will continue his journey with the Edmonton Oilers. This has been my foremost goal since I assumed my role about a month ago. It’s indeed a joyous moment for everyone in Edmonton and Oilers fans worldwide. I’ve enjoyed watching Leon’s exceptional performances on the ice as a fan over the past few years. He embodies competitiveness, and his desire to win and do so as an Edmonton Oiler mirrors my sentiments. Now, let’s hear from Leon.

Draisaitl responds with his opening comments:

To begin with, I appreciate everyone for being here today. I want to express my gratitude to the Katz family – Daryl, Renee, Harrison, Chloe, and the children – for their trust and dedication towards me and my family over the years. I feel immense pride as an Oiler and while I’m known to wear my heart on my sleeve, there’s nothing I love more than donning that jersey, representing our city and our wonderful supporters.

“I’m truly thrilled and hopeful about potentially being a lifetime Oiler.”

Draisaitl on always wanting to remain with Edmonton throughout contract negotiations and his commitment to the city for eight more years:

Naturally, these discussions and negotiations involve a great deal of chatter, which I believe we all recognize. However, in my experience, the interactions have always been respectful and free of any significant issues.

I take immense pride in what we have accomplished in Edmonton over the past few years. I am deeply connected to this city – it’s all I know and I couldn’t be prouder to don its jersey every day. As I’ve mentioned before, representing our city and our fans brings me immense satisfaction. We are in the process of creating something truly unique here and I am eager to continue contributing to it, with the hope of taking it to the next level.

8️⃣ more years of 2️⃣9️⃣ pic.twitter.com/IOUnqjLvQj

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 3, 2024

Bowman on the Oilers allocating a large percentage of their salary cap to a handful of players and if teams can build capable depth around them:

The straightforward response to that query would be yes. However, the crux of the matter is that athletes such as Leon are extraordinary. There are few individuals globally who can match his hockey prowess. Leon’s contribution to our team is irreplaceable, making him an integral part of us. He has been, and will continue to be indispensable. For me, there was never any doubt about it.

Undeniably, future challenges await us, but it’s something we’ll deal with in due course. The immediate priority was to ensure that he genuinely sought to be part of Edmonton. This is a crucial point we all need to focus on. He made the decision voluntarily. It was my top priority, but it required a great deal of collaboration and Leon’s desire to be part of Edmonton. After our conversation, it was clear that his ultimate goal is to win. As I get to know him better, his competitiveness and drive to win are what stand out the most about him. When I consider these attributes, I’m confident we’ll manage any other issues in the future. For the time being, we’re just ecstatic that he’s joined us.

Draisaitl on if there was a moment he realized Edmonton was the right place for him despite having the potential to hit free agency in July 2025:

My affection for being part of a team evolved gradually over time. As an 18-year-old, I began to particularly appreciate the camaraderie of the group that drafted me. I developed a strong affinity for that team, and for me, it was always the Oilers. The fact that we haven’t achieved our ultimate goal yet only makes it even more meaningful to me. We’re all working towards the same objective and I’m thrilled to be part of this journey. I am eager to continue making progress towards our shared ambition, which we all understand.

Throughout the years, our team has cultivated a strong bond – a bond that even the new members who are continuously joining us, echo. They all express similar sentiments about our team and city – they love playing in Edmonton. I believe we have developed this atmosphere over the past few years and it’s truly unique. We aim to maintain this.

Bowman on Draisaitl’s extension being the first step towards keeping Edmonton’s Stanley Cup window open for the foreseeable future:

Absolutely, I agree with your statement. Undeniably, his role in the team is crucial, as evident from the team’s performances on the ice over not just the past year, but several years. Therefore, it was essential for us to retain him. Our responsibility lies in providing him with the best teammates to enhance our team’s chances of winning. You’ve indeed put it very accurately.

Draisaitl on the balance of signing a contract he thinks is fair value while leaving room for Oilers management to utilize extra cap space in other areas:

“Yes, it’s a delicate balance, which is often why negotiations tend to reach an impasse. However, in this case, both parties displayed great respect in the early stages of the negotiation process, considering each other’s wants and needs. I agree with you entirely. We are well aware that victory is impossible with a roster of only two, three or four players. It’s simply not feasible in this highly competitive league. Therefore, I’m extremely pleased that the process has concluded, allowing me to concentrate on improving my game and playing my best, especially during crucial moments.”

Draisaitl on negotiating a separate deal than McDavid but having conversations about their futures in Edmonton:

The situation remains. Connor will make the choice that suits him best, correct? That’s simply how this situation operates. I made the decision I felt was in my best interest. Do I want Connor to follow suit? Undoubtedly, it would be dishonest to deny that. Naturally, I’d prefer him to stay with us and for all our team members to remain. However, I had to choose what was best for me. We’ve discussed this extensively, but it would be untrue to say I don’t hope he’ll stay with us for the long haul.

Draisaitl on building a culture in Edmonton with his teammates and how that factored into his decision to remain an Oiler:

Indeed, we have formed many friendships over the past few years. Our wives, fiancées, and girlfriends have also created long-lasting friendships during this time, which is truly special. While our primary goal is to win, as Connor, Darnell, Nuge, Hyms, and others would agree, the relationships we’ve built off the ice are nearly equally significant. People are drawn to this place and find it difficult to leave once they arrive. We have established this over the past few years, and it’s something we take great pride in. Winning the Stanley Cup is our main aim, but we have undoubtedly gained lifelong friends in the process.

Draisaitl on the Oilers processing their Game 7 defeat in the Stanley Cup Final:

Absolutely. It definitely took some time. Experiencing that was quite emotional for a bit. Of course, there’s a sense of pride in what we achieved, but ultimately, no one was talking about the Edmonton Oilers, correct? Our goal, our collective desire, is to be the main conversation topic on the last day of the season, and we made significant strides this season. I believe we brought in some excellent additions this summer. We sadly lost some key players too, but that’s just how the industry works. I’m genuinely fond of how our team is shaping up right now, and I can’t wait to put things into motion.

LEON'S LOCKED IN

The #Oilers have signed forward Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year contract extension beginning in 2025-26 with an average annual value of $14 million. pic.twitter.com/wERUyneHA7

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 3, 2024

Bowman on negotiations with Draisaitl and the changing landscape of the NHL when it comes to the value of contracts and the rising salary cap:

Earlier, Leon mentioned something about his experience dealing with [Octagon’s Mike Liut and Andy Scott] which I’d like to reference. He found it to be a great experience, and I concur. I perceived the negotiation to be very respectful. As with all negotiations, there are inevitably some obstacles to overcome, but I found the process to be quite rewarding and enjoyed collaborating with them.

I believe that the league’s financial outlook has positively changed. The last few years have seen remarkable revenue increases and following the pandemic, there was the task of compensating both the players and the owners for the initial pandemic years. Now that we’ve moved past that, the league’s revenue forecasts appear very robust, which I think is a good sign for the future direction of the salary cap.

While there’s always a degree of uncertainty, the situation is different compared to five or ten years ago when the cap was increasing annually, albeit perhaps artificially. Nowadays, there’s more confidence that the rise is due to revenue increases, which is a positive sign for the league. As revenues increase, so does the players’ share, ensuring top players are remunerated appropriately. These players are the difference-makers and the special ones, hence they rightfully deserve it.

Draisaitl on if he considered signing a mid-range deal (four-to-six years) rather than an eight-year contract:

From the moment you begin discussions with your agents, you explore every possible scenario. However, in my case, it always comes back to my dedication to the city and our team. I struggle to envision myself wearing another team’s jersey, although I recognize that circumstances can change. I’m well-aware of and understand the business aspect of this. I, however, aspire to remain an Oiler for as long as possible and ideally, for life. I believed an eight-year deal was the best option for me.

Bowman on his experience building a competitive roster around two or more highly-paid players:

Undoubtedly, the mathematics don’t lie. Thus, it’s essential to incorporate low-cost players into your team annually. This could be via a budding player moving up from junior leagues, the American Hockey League, or like the Oilers did recently, by recruiting seasoned players willing to accept lower salaries for shorter-term contracts. It’s crucial to have the capacity to engage players that will not only contribute on the ice with their skills, but also align with your salary cap structure.

I believe it’s crucial for us to focus on drafting, nurturing, and discovering young players who can contribute to our team. This will be a significant aspect of our forward planning and a priority for our front office in the future years. We aim to excel not only in drafting and training these players, but also preparing them to transition into the NHL lineup, all while not commanding top salaries.

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Draisaitl on knowing what it takes to win a Stanley Cup after coming within one game of a championship last season:

I apologize for my choice of words, but it’s frustrating to keep mulling over it. Clearly, we were as close as one can get, yet we ended up with nothing. We’ve accumulated considerable experience and many positive indicators during our playoff run, and a substantial portion of our team is back. I believe we’re prepared to take another shot and integrate the lessons and experiences from last season into the coming one. However, we are all aware that reaching there is the crucial part.

Bowman on how Draisaitl’s extension could impact McDavid’s pending negotiations for a new contract (eligible July 1, 2025):

Yes, every negotiation is distinct. Therefore, I’m unsure about its potential impact and we intend to handle it as a separate contract.

We plan to have discussions with Connor and his agent when the time is right. The primary message we want to convey is our determination to win. We are confident in Leon’s past and future contributions to the team and hope this embodies our commitment to moving forward and striving for victory. As Leon mentioned, we came close last year and aim to go further this time. This is our clear intent – to win and to use every resource at our disposal to achieve this. Hopefully, Connor will appreciate this sentiment. However, the negotiation process will be a separate matter. It could be similar or different; I can’t predict that right now. I eagerly anticipate these conversations.

Draisaitl on if there’s any extra pressure he’s going to put on himself with a new contract:

Of course, there’s some pressure, but I’m not sure ‘pressure’ is the right term. I believe it’s more about ‘responsibility’ than ‘pressure’.

“I understand my duty. I am cognizant of the trust placed in me by Daryl, the Katz family, and the entire Oilers organization. It’s now my turn to reciprocate, and I am conscious of my obligation. Does it entail pressure? Undeniably, there are moments of pressure. I am going to receive substantial remuneration to manage those instances.”