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One leading rival going all in on Leon Draisaitl!
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One leading rival going all in on Leon Draisaitl!

Especially if the Oilers fall short in the postseason. Here’s the plan:

Chris Gosselin

This is not the first time trade rumours have emerged on Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl, and let’s be honest, until Edmonton hoists the Stanley Cup, they will keep going. In the recent month, chatter has linked two teams have possible landing spots for Draisaitl in both the San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins, and it looks like the latter is getting more and more serious about making it happen.

Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic recently wondered if the Bruins should pursue the German superstar this summer or in 2025 when he is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

Draisaitl is about to enter the final season of an eight-year, $68 million ($8.5M AAV) contract, and will get to earn a significant pay raise. Boston makes sense as a destination for Draisaitl because of their lack of centers, and chatter reveals that the Oilers’ forward would be very interested in joining his close friend David Pastrnak on a top line in Boston.

The Bruins’ limited cap space could make it very hard for them to win a bidding war if the Oilers agree to trading him this summer.

In 2025, Boston has a projected $47 million in cap room for 2025-26 with seven active players under contract and a player like Draisaitl could easily command over $15 million annually. However, the Bruins will also need to consider their necessary signings and additions to make the maths works.

Shinzawa believes that, if there is a shot, to land Draisaitl, the Bruins must take it, but that it could have to wait next summer.

Here is what Shinzawa says on the plan or conundrum in Boston to land Draisaitl:

“The Bruins, then, could keep their 2024 offseason powder relatively dry. They could re-sign Jeremy Swayman and practice budget additions elsewhere in anticipation of pursuing Draisaitl next summer.

It would be a roll of the dice. General manager Don Sweeney would need a good idea that Draisaitl will be available.
But Draisaitl is a game-changing center. The Bruins need one in a big way.”

Amen.

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Source: Fluto Shinzawa