It has been an up and down season for Edmonton Oilers prospect Leon Draisaitl.
After beginning the 2014-15 season on a high at the NHL level, where he played 37 games, Leon was eventually returned to the Western Hockey League. Not only was his first professional season cut short, but Draisaitl was also withheld from playing in the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championship for Germany despite being re-assigned to the CHL a short time later.
However, despite his rollercoaster year, Draisaitl has since settled in quite nicely with the WHL leading Kelowna Rockets, a team abundant in both top NHL prospects and draft eligible players.
NHL Experience
Although Leon’s first steps in the NHL were short lived, he gained valuable hockey experience from matching up against some of the best players, in particular centres, in the NHL.
In his first 37 games with the Oilers, Draisaitl recorded two goals and seven assists, while he registered a minus 17 rating.
Averaging a mere 12:40 of ice time per game and with the Oilers well out of the playoff picture, it was an easy decision to return Draisaitl to the WHL as it provided Leon the opportunity to further develop his game as well as restore his confidence.
Rebounding Rocket
Following his assignment to the WHL on January 4th, Leon Draisaitl as been one of the WHL’s most productive players.
Since his return, Leon had scored 43 points, including 16 goals in only 26 games for the Kelowna Rockets. His 1.65 points per game is also the best of any player on Kelowna.
A major factor in Draisaitl’s resurgence, and the success of the Rockets as a whole is the wealth of high end NHL talent on the Kelowna roster. Alongside Draisaitl are first round NHL draft picks and team Canada World Junior stars Madison Bowey and Josh Morrissey.
The Rockets also boast a bevy of other high end talent, such as potential first round draft pick Nick Merkley, 46 goal scorer and San Jose Sharks prospect Rourke Chartier as well as Justin Kirland, a third round selection of the Nashville Predators.
[Check out this video! Leon reflects on his NHL experience and readjusting to the WHL]
With such incredible depth and proven success so far this season, having won 50 of 66 games, the Kelowna Rockets and Draisaitl appear poised not only for a long playoff run, but a potential appearance in the annual Memorial Cup.
Draisaitl himself does not have much playoff experience, as he and his old team, the Prince Albert Raiders, were quickly eliminated in each of the past two WHL post seasons. However, a deep playoff run will do Draisaitl considerable good, as it is an aspect of hockey with which he is largely unfamiliar with since his arrival in North America.
Good piece and an appropriate title – Draisaitl had a seven-game goal streak going to close out February and begin March. In 26 games played since the start of 2015, Draisaitl has only had four pointless games. He’s been overshadowed by the likes of McDavid, Crouse and (the returned) Bennett in major junior hockey in the CHL for the first two months of the year.
I cringed when he remained with the Oilers out of training camp, assuming that it was Eakins/MacTavish’s joint decision to address the lack of depth at centre by slotting Draisaitl in. He’s a big guy and wasn’t really overpowered during his time up, but his ice time fluctuated and there wasn’t any indication of what his role was with the team. It was foolish to have Draisaitl remain with the team for as long as he did and not having him sent down to the WHL in time to be eligible for the WJHC was disappointing and a mistake on the part of Oilers’ management.
The inconsistency demonstrated by Oilers’ management knows no bounds. They appear to be patient and develop the likes of Marincin, Klefbom and Nurse in a sound manner and then throw Draisaitl into the NHL in a reckless fashion. Mind-boggling, really.