In the spring, Leon Draisaitl stormed into the playoffs with the Edmonton Oilers after a long dry spell, and now the international player with the NHL veteran is to reach for the Stanley Cup again.”The euphoria was enormous.Of course, we want more next year,”says the 21-year-old in an interview with SID before the start of the season.
“Especially among the Oilers, who were so incredibly successful with Wayne Gretzky in the past.Winning is always called for, that’s completely understandable,”Draisaitl added.
The native of Cologne, who was already celebrated as “German Gretzky” in Canada during his junior years, played a decisive role in helping Edmonton return to the play-offs after ten unsuccessful years.
With 93 scorer points he advanced to the elite of the NHL.Especially his interplay with the new superstar Connor McDavid makes the Oilers one of the top favourites for the title.Many experts are confident that the five-time champion will reach the final after the quarter-finals in the pre-season.
“Of course, it’d be great if it did.That’s what everyone wants,”says Draisaitl, but he reminds us:”We must first see how we start the season and bring our quality to the ice.”
nearby
On Thursday night (4 a. m. CEST) the hunt for the oldest trophy in team sports, which has not been won by a Canadian team since 1993, begins in Rogers Place against the Calgary Flames.The Oilers won their last championship title in 1990.
Draisaitl has established itself as the eighth best scorer of the past season in the NHL and is now rewarded like a superstar.During the summer break, he signed an eight-year contract for 68 million dollars – with an annual salary of 8.5 million, he is the best paid German ice hockey professional in history.