There is no shortage of Edmonton Oilers who better be prepared to buck up this season after signing big-money contract extensions.

Vasily Podkolzin will go from $1-million to $2.95 next year, tripling his income despite just eight goals and 16 assists in 82 games last year of mostly top-six minutes.

Trent Frederic landed an eight-year deal paying him $3.85 million, solely on an ability to rehab an ankle injury. (Hopefully, at least.)

And Evan Bouchard has gone from $3.5 million last year to $10.5 million this year, becoming the highest-paid defenceman on the team. Sure, he almost singlehandedly carried the Oilers out of a first-round hole against an L.A. Kings squad hungry for vengeance. But his lack of consistency, to say the least, has made for more than a little cringing at his new double digits.

The trend suggests either a complete faith by Oilers management in their players, or total financial irresponsibility. Only time will tell. But one thing’s certain. After back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final, banner or not, it only gets more and more difficult to hold an ultracompetitive roster together.

But what about the biggest extension of them all?

It is the one who is making the most whom the Oilers are least worried about. Especially production-wise.

Leon Draisaitl comes into the first year of his record $112-million contract as the reigning goal scorer in the NHL. And if they’re lucky, the Oilers will make him the second-highest paid player next year.

Yes, Connor McDavid is entering the final year of his eight-year contract as Draisaitl steps through the door of his new one. And so far, there hasn’t been a shred of indication that the Oilers captain will put pen to paper on staying in Edmonton by the time the puck drops on the regular season on Oct. 8.

The fact that Draisaitl, when facing this exact situation a year ago, had his extension done and dusted and out of the way by Sept. 3 — three weeks prior to the pre-season schedule opening — doesn’t exactly give cause for celebration throughout the city.

Draisaitl’s eight-year deal for $112 million marked an NHL record, paying him an annual average value of $14 million, which is another NHL record.

G-MAN’S TAKE: Of course, those numbers could end up getting smashed whenever McDavid decides to end the waiting game. (Earmuffs, Oilers fans.) Make that whenever and wherever he chooses to sign.

Or the wait could all be worth it and he ends up not only remaining in Edmonton, but also going the way of fellow generational superstar Sidney Crosby and taking a huge pay cut in an extension that is so team friendly it allows the Oilers to surround him with more roster help in pursuit of the Cup.

One thing’s for sure, McDavid won’t be mirroring Draisaitl’s eight-year extension, since the league has reduced the maximum to seven seasons now.

Could the NHL’s biggest contract be a steal of a deal?

For now, at least, Draisaitl is the highest paid player in the NHL.

And he isn’t shying away from the fact, either.

“I mean, it’s obviously an honour. It’s nothing I think about. I put more pressure on myself than the contract ever could, or any dollar ever could,” Draisaitl said. “Obviously, I take great pride in doing what I do, and becoming better and the consistency part of it.

“So, I don’t try to think about the number too much. I just try to play my game and get better in little areas.”

G-MAN’S TAKE: It’s the incessant drive to continue improving, even if by small fractions at this point, that separates Draisaitl from the rest of the Oilers pack. OK, almost the rest.

While some other Oilers players have climbed up some big numbers and are now facing the notion of flying or falling, the only question surrounding Draisaitl is whether or not he will continue producing at this elite level, or if his sky-high contract will somehow propel him to even greater, um … greatness?

If last year’s performance was any indication of what his future holds after signing the contract, imagine what could be in store now that it actually kicks in.

What more does Draisaitl have to prove?

With all the hardware cluttering his mantle from his first 11 years in the pros, Draisaitl still has unfinished ambitions heading into the final month of his 20s.

Claiming a Stanley Cup goes without saying, and has to be the biggest monster under the bed keeping him awake at night, especially after coming oh-so close on more than one occasion now.

Sure, he’s got an Ed Chynoweth trophy (Western Hockey League championship), a handful of all-star nods, an Art Ross (points), a Ted Lindsay (most outstanding player) and a Hart Memorial (most valuable player), and added a Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard trophy last year as the leading goal-scorer.

But Draisaitl wasted no time in training camp before the word Selke passed his lips, as one of the top offensive talents in the league is looking to not only round out his two-way game, but also become one of the elite defensive forwards in the league.

G-MAN’S TAKE: He’s got absolutely nothing left to prove to the club or its fans at this point. But that’s not going to stop him from trying anyway. Just watch.

What about Draisaitl’s supporting cast?

No player can do it alone. Not Draisaitl. Heck, not even McDavid.

And while Edmonton’s two top guns are expected to start the season together on the Oilers top line, while Zach Hyman (wrist) misses what will likely be a month, Draisaitl’s work in forming a second line that has become every bit as formidable as the first has become integral to the Oilers’ success.

That being said, there hasn’t exactly been a Zach Hyman type to step up and become Draisaitl’s right-hand man whenever the centre isn’t playing second fiddle next to McDavid.

The closest thing there’s been is the aforementioned Podkolzin, whose work on the gritty areas of the ice has opened up time and space for Draisaitl to work his magic.

Contributions don’t always show up on the stats sheet.

“There’s no guy that deserves it more than him,” Draisaitl said of Podkolzin’s extension. “He’s the ultimate pro, such a great teammate who’d do anything for this group.

“He deserves it and we’re all extremely happy to have him.”

G-MAN’S TAKE: Draisaitl makes the most of his time on the top line and on the first-unit power play. But if these two can develop into a one-two punch of a second line that reaches anywhere close to how highly Draisaitl speaks of Podkolzin, it might end up taking just enough pressure off McDavid up front that he will be able to do more McDavid-y things. Not to mention find the time and energy to finally get this whole contract thing taken care of sooner rather than later.

Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge

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