Leon Draisaitl Gives Oilers Teammates Wakeup Call With recent comments
Despite having arguably two of the best players in the entire NHL, the Edmonton Oilers have yet to make a deep playoff run in this era, and now, Leon Draisaitl has had some tough words for his teammates.
Frustration
Once again, the Oilers were right in a series against the Vegas Golden Knights, but according to Draisaitl, the team just gave up too many goals, despite knowing they were good enough to beat them.
Several times throughout the series, the Oilers would score a big goal but immediately give one right back, and now, the team needs a reality check ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Changes coming?
It's safe to say that there's not been too many changes to this team over the summer for a reason, and that's due to the team learning and improving together, and over this week, both Draisaitl and McDavid have addressed the things the team need to change.
I think that's series could (have gone) any direction,» Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said on Thursday, after a captain's skate at Rogers Place. «But it didn't, and that's a fact.
So, what happened then? What really happened, to an Oilers team that was locked in a 2-2 series, on the road in Game 5 and leading 2-1 with six minutes remaining in the second period?
We just didn't play our best hockey when it mattered most. Not consistently enough, at least, said Draisaitl. In the long run, the last two games, they just outplayed us a little bit in some little areas. A couple of penalties here.
It was a collection of little mistakes that add up, to lose the series, said captain Connor McDavid, when asked on Wednesday at press conference for next month's Heritage Classic game. Looking back, we're sitting there in Game 5, five minutes left in the second and in a real good place � on the road and up by a goal. Feeling good about ourselves. And you find a way to be down two (goals) heading into the third period.
It's a collection of mistakes throughout the series that add up to a series loss. Something that we'll fix throughout the course of year.
So, what happened then? What really happened, to an Oilers team that was locked in a 2-2 series, on the road in Game 5 and leading 2-1 with six minutes remaining in the second period?
We just didn't play our best hockey when it mattered most. Not consistently enough, at least, said Draisaitl. In the long run, the last two games, they just outplayed us a little bit in some little areas. A couple of penalties here.
It was a collection of little mistakes that add up, to lose the series, said captain Connor McDavid, when asked on Wednesday at press conference for next month's Heritage Classic game. Looking back, we're sitting there in Game 5, five minutes left in the second and in a real good place � on the road and up by a goal. Feeling good about ourselves. And you find a way to be down two (goals) heading into the third period.
It's a collection of mistakes throughout the series that add up to a series loss. Something that we'll fix throughout the course of year.
Ultimately, this is a team that's still ready to make a deep run, but unless they can fix these little things, it will be tough to take down some of the elite teams in the Western Conference.
As Read on Oilers Daily - Leon Draisaitl has some tough words for his teammates
| POLL | ||
13 SEPTEMBRE | 117 ANSWERS Leon Draisaitl Gives Oilers Teammates Wakeup Call With recent comments Can Draisaitl and the Oilers make the Cup Finals in 2023-24? | ||
| Yes | 71 | 60.7 % |
| No | 46 | 39.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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