Leon Draisaitl says he wants to be an 91裸聊视频淥iler for life.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚 have a hard time picturing myself in a different jersey,91裸聊视频� 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.

Draisaitl91裸聊视频檚 deal is just the first of three major targets general manager Stan Bowman needs to tackle in the next couple of years. Defenceman Evan Bouchard91裸聊视频檚 $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 Draisaitl91裸聊视频檚.

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

91裸聊视频淐ertainly, there91裸聊视频檚 going to be challenges in the future,91裸聊视频� Bowman said of the team91裸聊视频檚 need to stay under the salary-cap ceiling and lock down all three players.

91裸聊视频淏ut, that91裸聊视频檚 for us to figure out down the road.91裸聊视频�

Bowman said that players like Draisaitl are simply irreplaceable, so that91裸聊视频檚 why the deal was his 91裸聊视频渢op priority91裸聊视频� since he was hired earlier this summer.

91裸聊视频淧layers like Leon are special.91裸聊视频� said Bowman. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 not many people in the world who can play hockey like he does. There91裸聊视频檚 no way we can ever replace what Leon brings to the table. He91裸聊视频檚 a huge part of our team; he has been and will continue to be.91裸聊视频�

Draisaitl signed an eight-year, US$68 million contract extension in August 2017 that carried an annual average cap hit of $8.5 million 91裸聊视频� and quickly turned into one of the NHL91裸聊视频檚 bargains 91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a fine line and I think that91裸聊视频檚 where negotiations normally probably get to a standstill and it doesn91裸聊视频檛 go any further,91裸聊视频� said Draisaitk. 91裸聊视频淲e know you can91裸聊视频檛 win with two-, three- or four-man rosters. It91裸聊视频檚 just not possible in this league. This league91裸聊视频檚 too good. I91裸聊视频檓 very happy it91裸聊视频檚 done 91裸聊视频� and I can focus on playing my game and continuing to get better and play my best hockey, especially when it matters most.91裸聊视频�

Draisaitl is hopeful his extension will lead to a long-term deal for McDavid, keeping the NHL91裸聊视频檚 top one-two punch together for years to come.

91裸聊视频淐onnor91裸聊视频檚 going to do what91裸聊视频檚 best for him, right? That91裸聊视频檚 just the way this works,91裸聊视频� said Draisaitl. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�

But, does being the new highest-paid player in the NHL put a target on Draisaitl91裸聊视频檚 back? Will it make him grip his stick more tightly in the coming years?

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know about the word, 91裸聊视频榩ressure.91裸聊视频� I think it91裸聊视频檚 a responsibility more so than pressure, maybe. I91裸聊视频檓 aware of my responsibility, I91裸聊视频檓 aware of the commitment that (owner Daryl Katz) and the entire Oilers organization has given me. It91裸聊视频檚 my time to give that back in a way, right? I91裸聊视频檓 aware of my responsibility. Is it pressure? In certain moments, there is pressure. But, you know I91裸聊视频檓 going to get paid a lot of money to handle those moments.91裸聊视频�