from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

Another reason for Draisaitl’s $8.5 million annual payday is the identity of the center to which he defers. The Oilers presented Connor McDavid with an eight-year, $100 million extension. McDavid might even be underpaid considering the halo effect he bestows upon the organization and league in terms of marketing, corporate sponsorship, and appeal to prospective teammates (see: Milan Lucic). But purely in hockey terms, the Oilers could not afford to apply previously existing templates, such as six years and $36 million, on Draisaitl. It would not have been easy for management to explain to Draisaitl why he was worth $6.5 million annually less than McDavid, regardless of the latter’s prodigious skill.

While different parties have different opinions on Draisaitl’s AAV, the value the Oilers intend to extract from their top centers cannot be disputed. Starting next year, the Oilers will commit $21 million annually toward McDavid and Draisaitl. It’s the same amount Chicago invests in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews per season.

The differences are age and expected future performance. McDavid and Draisaitl will be 21 when the puck drops on 2018-19. The Blackhawks are paying Kane (28) and Toews (29) $10.5 million each for five more seasons. Guess which tandem every GM would prefer.

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