What Oilers' Draisaitl Learned About Himself After Toughing Out A Playoff Injury

Elliotte Friedman sat down with Leon Draisaitl at the European Players’ Media Tour in August, to talk lessons learned, toughing out his playoff injury, brutal honesty with Connor McDavid, being the best passer in the game, and this season’s goals.
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[@4lifeFanHabs]

Keep in mind that he had more assists than any other player during the playoffs. Even after the oilers were swept by the Avs in the 3rd round

[@Cope59]

Yep, I think mcdavid finished with 33 points in the playoffs (1st) and draisaitl right behind with 32 points (2nd) despite being swept in the conference finals. Draisaitl doing all that one leg is just absolutely wild, he even broke playoff records in that series vs the flames.

[@TheBulbasaurKing]

Leon is very right about the process and hard to repeat playoff runs over and over. Look at Tampa Bay. In the 9 years after their first Stanley Cup made the playoffs 3 times and won 2 series. And after that they made the conference finals 6 of the next 8 seasons. Playoff success doesn't come handed to you and that's what Leon and Connor have realized with their deep run this past season.

[@boltinabottle6307]

I can't imagine what those guys have been through over the past decade. Even with only 2 Cup wins, I think they should be remembered with the great teams in NHL history.

[@ryan5307]

Leon gets named for the second year in a row the best passer and then proceeds to assist on McDavid's 60th you couldn't have wrote a more perfect script than that! I feel incredibly lucky to get to watch these two every Oilers game is a treat to behold their brilliance! I love jack Michaels calling their play as well he's exhilarating!

[@oopopp]

Leon is a WARRIOR! I was at one of those playoff games, he was laboring every time he came back to the bench. He's is a stud scoring at a RECORD pace on 1 leg. Loved it here when he said, "We ARE going to the Stanley Cup."

[@dawsledger1407]

The best effort I've seen in a playoff series

[@jimwood6998]

Yzerman towards the end of his career would spend the playoffs using his stick as a crutch. As soon as the puck dropped he was back at his best. Last season Leon reminded me of that last year. You just cannot believe they can move and they still play at am elite level. I’m picking Edmonton out of the west this year. The most fun team to watch.

[@Artemi03]

One of the only sports where players take a beating and still go out and play they’re heart out

[@wyattbrill5031]

So grateful to have two of the best players in the world on my team. 🧡💙

[@mrhurst198]

Draisitl is a beast, and yes, he is better than Matthews

[@lordbyron8927]

You have to appreciate anyone who works and sacrifices in an attempt at bettering themselves.

[@mainemceachern1521]

How cool that in summer 2022 Leon told Connor that he should score 60 goals, and voila, Connor delivered in 2022-23.

[@ianlee6339]

Leon's Connor impression at 1:50 is🔥🔥🔥🔥and funny!

[@mrfake675]

Pure class. Pure stud

[@HugoMeyers]

And now mcdavid has 60 goals!

[@cheesybacon1000]

Best player in the entire playoffs this year. Can’t argue with me

[@debbiekyle5029]

Simply one of the Best❤🏒🇨🇦

[@kookanoop405]

Ik it won’t happen, but I really hope either Connor or Leon stay here forever

[@alexandrapreston7283]

I hope leon stays forever :)

[@Stanley_Furley]

Total Co-Captain.

[@KaibaThaDon]

Told 97 to score 60. Almost there !

[@allisonfournier5378]

GREAT GUY

[@Digital_PeterGriffin]

“Connor you need to score 60 goals this year” *Connor with 40 goals in 50 games “Yeah I know, maybe”

[@logan3035]

Doesn't get the respect he deserves top 3 player

[@FlowerGirl8]

Top 2

[@BlackMasakari]

stud

[@lincoln4997]

Go oilers

[@Chellbro97]

What a fucken stud keep powering along even if you have to give it too them drai

[@TOKYO64DOTCOM]

He is a great player! A warrior and a man that can get it done and that will one day lift the cup! Oilers!!!

[@onelowvdub]

I love the Oilers

[@rickrobitaille8809]

Let's get this back 😂✔🇨🇦😅

[@vilhamdutch2962]

And he still killed it 🎉Amazon

[@peters5090]

jeff bezos

[@stoneysopranoyukon9398]

LET'S GO OILERS !!!

[@yegman]

M V P

[@bcxsniperz8032]

he has really good English for a german

[@DoomOfTheNoldor]

Germans now learn english from age 8, and also Leon came and played in the WHL so he's had a lot of experience

[@jeniasmackay7931]

Mcdavid has I think 54 goals as of now lol

[@rickrobitaille8809]

What 😂can you say🇨🇦✔😂

[@yes2208]

Leon why are you so pissy

[@biffdanielson2820]

I love the oilers' talent, but for the 2nd year in a row, they won't be getting past the Avalanche.

[@biffdanielson2820]

@Horgan Blatt you're late to the party

[@Gwaur44]

Faker

[@JSauer21]

That he's soft and can't handle the physicality of the playoffs

[@billbill3915]

Stop eating paint chips.

[@JSauer21]

@@billbill3915 Yeah if he stopped eating paint chips that would probably help

[@redninelowdog]

Yeah, that totally explains how he got 32 points in 16 games in the playoffs while injured. Too "soft".....

[@JSauer21]

@@redninelowdog Yeah dude physicality and scoring are totally the same thing. That's why the Oilers have won so many cups with McDavid and Draisaitl

[@redninelowdog]

@@JSauer21, Ovechkin played many more seasons than they did before he won a cup and is rightfully considered one of the best players and is hardly soft. Troll harder with your, "lack of Stanley Cups is entirely two players' faults".... in a TEAM sport. Even Gretzky admitted the reason he won so many cups was because he was on great teams. Besides, the Oilers were literally in the semi-finals this past playoff season.

[@stentorofsparta3576]

Leagues biggest fraud. Matthews, Mackinnon, Crosby, & kucherov are all better players. Although when he hits UFA, those guys could use a nice side kick like Leon.

[@mrsir4274]

Tell me you don't know anything about hockey without telling me you don't know anything about hockey.

[@mahockey3]

32 points in 16 playoff games. Total fraud.

[@kingoftrolls19]

Mackinnon already has sidekicks

[@kingoftrolls19]

@@mahockey3 biggest fraud

[@annahuber7032]

you talk trash man!!!!

[@kingoftrolls19]

Funny how people blame leons injury for playing poorly but people are quick to forget about nuchuskin and his foot injury he played through. Nuke is the real tough one while Leon was flopping all over the place. Leon is overrated.

[@mahockey3]

True to your username

[@mctoads8230]

And Darnell Nurse Play the entire playoffs with a torn hip flexor … how did he play poorly in 16 games he put up 32 points After getting hurt in the first round. Nichushkin had 15 in 20. That’s why Leon gets an interview and Nichushkin doesn’t

[@BlackMasakari]

Leon does not flop, king of trolls does.

[@kingoftrolls19]

@@mctoads8230 lol and nuke has a ring haha. Nurse played hurt and it showed tremendously. Nurse was the avs 6th skater haha

[@abovewater6918]

I know you are just a troll. But Draisaitl and Mcdavid led the playoffs in points despite not playing in the final round