Model Franchises Making Money Moves

The Carolina Hurricanes signed Seth Jarvis to an eight-year extension with a $7.42 million average annual value (AAV). In case that wasn’t crazy enough, the Edmonton Oilers extended Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year deal with a $14 million AAV, making him the highest-paid player in the game. 

The two moves lock star players into the two lineups but also show how the Hurricanes and the Oilers front offices think. Both teams are well-run franchises and they make great moves to show for it. These extensions are prime examples.

The Jarvis Bargain

Jarvis is one of the best young skaters in the league and only getting better. He burst on the scene last season with 33 goals and 34 assists as a top-line winger and at 22 years old, the sky is the limit for him.

The Hurricanes have him under contract for the next eight seasons, meaning he’ll play most of his prime years with them before entering free agency at 30. Better yet, they have Jarvis at an AAV of $7.42 million which is in the same range as good but not elite skaters. Considering how good he is, this deal is a steal.

Oilers Lock in Draisaitl, Yet it’s a Bargain

Leon Draisaitl is one of the 10 best players in the NHL, a consistent 40-goal scorer and 50 assist distributor. He’s one of the elite players in the game who can take over at any point and will be paid like one. It makes his $14 million AAV look low. 

Sure, he’s the highest-paid player in the NHL (for now) but he could have signed for a $16 million per year contract this summer if he tested free agency. Sure, that sounds like a lot but all he needed were two teams looking to make a bid for him (and the interest would be there).

Instead, he remains on the Oilers as a key part of the roster moving forward. Connor McDavid without question is the greatest player in the NHL and Draisaitl is an integral part of the team as well. Now, the Oilers must hope the other pieces fall into place to allow them to hoist the Stanley Cup.

Where Both The Hurricanes & Oilers Go From Here

Both the Hurricanes and the Oilers are Cup contenders and have their cores locked and loaded to make a run at the Cup. Now, it’s all about putting the finishing touches on their rosters to put them over the top. 

For the Hurricanes, it’s about finding stability in the net. They have a great offense led by Sebastian Aho, Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov while the defense is anchored by Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns. Unfortunately, goaltending continues to doom them and it will again in the playoffs unless they find an answer. 

The Oilers meanwhile were one win away from the Cup last season and they have a lot of pieces in place to return to the Final this season. However, they traded a few veterans for youth this summer and they need those young skaters to step up. 

Jarvis and Draisaitl are key parts of their rosters and will put their teams on the doorstep of the Cup. Who knows, maybe the Hurricanes and the Oilers will face off in the Final.