Trade interest in Oilers' Leon Draisaitl surges amid new rumours

The German forward is set to become an unrestricted free agent if the Oilers don't re-sign him before the deadline. Many insiders and pundits believe that if the Oilers fail to make a deep playoff run, Draisaitl will seek a new team. Rumours are already swirling about possible destinations.

The league is abuzz with the potential for Draisaitl to join a new team. Recently, he was linked to the Boston Bruins. Former Oilers enforcer Georges Laraque reported on BPM Sports, a Montreal sports radio show, that Draisaitl is interested in becoming a first-line center in Boston if he doesn't re-sign with Edmonton.

Adding to this, Boston Hockey Now's Jimmy Murphy stated that Boston is a logical destination due to their need for centers.

On the other hand, ESPN.com's Greg Wyshynski discussed the possibility of Draisaitl moving to the San Jose Sharks. In a conversation with Jeff Marek, Wyshynski suggested that Sharks owner Hasso Plattner, who is also German, would likely welcome Draisaitl with a lucrative offer. Joining the Sharks would mean starting fresh in terms of a Stanley Cup journey but would also offer the opportunity to mentor young talents like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.

Draisaitl's current contract, which carries a cap hit of $8.5 million and a modified no-trade clause, is set to expire soon. The Oilers can start negotiations on July 1, but it is expected that Draisaitl will command a substantial raise.

As the Oilers trail 3-2 in their second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks, the pressure mounts. A failure to reach the Stanley Cup final could increase the likelihood of Draisaitl exploring other options. The buzz around his potential move is only growing, with more teams and rumours likely to surface as the next season approaches.

The hockey world is watching closely to see where one of its brightest stars will land next.