Prospect Info: Leon Draisaitl: Memorial Cup MVP

[Samus44]

It was Sam Gagner's build as well.

I don't have a problem with that build in general, but when it's accompanied by a poor first few steps, maybe dropping a few pounds makes for a better game.

There's this myth that Leon is a Thornton or Kopitar type big centre. And he's just not.

He's not built like Gagner at all, he's way bigger, he's built like a tank in a rare way like Torres. I'm a stocky 6' tall guy, built like Gagner if not a bit stockier, and i've got a buddy who's 1 inch taller but WAY bigger, not fat, just built like a Gorilla with huge shoulders and that's Draisaitl. My bud is probably 15-30 pounds bigger, and i'm big for my size. Draisaitl has a rare size in his frame, you could set the table on his shoulders. His height for his build makes him a big, big guy. Torres is a big player at 6' and Draisaitl is the same kind of thing. Gagner isn't even in the discussion, he's a small guy with a low center of gravity and strong legs, Draisaitl is a big guy with a strong upper body and weak legs.

 

[s7ark]

Yes and no.

Every player is different. Some players actually learn better in the NHL then the ahl. Drai starting on the 3rd line will probably help him more then the ahl.

True. Maybe drai will do better at the NHL level if plays with people that can read plays like him.

That being said he still has things that can be improved. And the NHL isn't a development league for smart teams. Klefbom was a guy that was better in the NHL. But he still benefited from his half season in the AHL.

 

[Spawn]

Depends. The best way to adapt to the speed of the NHL is to play in the NHL. Using the ahl is for players who have skills they need to work on and hone first. Drai doesn't quite need that. He needs to adapt his game speed to the NHL and going to the ahl won't make that much of a difference.

Meh. Draisaitl didn't show an ounce of development in the nhl in half a season last year. If he can't play in this league he shouldn't be here. This isn't a development league and we need to stop being a development team. If draisaitl plays like a legitimate nhl quality player he should be here. If he can't do that he shouldn't be trying to learn how on the fly.

 

[KlefDown]

I just realized, the problem with Drai was never that he couldn't produce vs his own age group or vs rookies or non-pro players, it's that he struggled in the NHL.
If he keeps up his performance in the pre-season, then I'll be convinced he's ready.

 

[Sweetpotato]

Meh. Draisaitl didn't show an ounce of development in the nhl in half a season last year. If he can't play in this league he shouldn't be here. This isn't a development league and we need to stop being a development team. If draisaitl plays like a legitimate nhl quality player he should be here. If he can't do that he shouldn't be trying to learn how on the fly.

Short sited to say that with Eakins in charge. He looked just as confused as every other player. I think he'll take a few people by surprise this year whether it's in the A or NHL.

As for Drais I think he does need a half year in the A until he's ready. He needs to work on acceleration as his technical skating has improved since his draft year so I do see improvements and while his offense didn't come I think it was obvious his defensive positioning improved after focusing on that all year(it was quoted that he was committed to being an elite 2 way player so he trained over the summer and during the year for it).

 

[LTIR]

at this point best case scenario for him this season is 3rd line C spot with Oilers... Worst case scenario he will be #1C in AHL.
Either way it is a win for his long term development and success.

 

[McQuixote]

at this point best case scenario for him this season is 3rd line C spot with Oilers... Worst case scenario he will be #1C in AHL.
Either way it is a win for his long term development and success.

I think Cheerios made a good point earlier, though I don't think it's just speed that requires an adjustment. I think the important thing is to make sure that Draisaitl can contribute as an NHLer if he's going to stay here.

This team has a lot of rookies and inexperience, and there are only so many sheltered, "developmental" minutes the Oilers can offer, especially with a weak blueline and a goalie who has never been a starter before (and our recent history as a goalie graveyard). Talbot, Nurse, Reinhart, and the continuing plodding two-way development of some holdovers like Yakupov and Schultz (not that I mean to make much of that), and another new coach and system, there are a lot of players on the established roster who are going to require adjustment.

I think if Draisaitl is going to be here, he's going to have to swim and swim hard from the first puck drop. The easy zone starts, primo pp time and soft minutes have to go to players who can capitalize on them, not just those who need them to survive.

And if he can't do that, going to the AHL won't hurt him at all, and will probably help him a lot.

That said, I'm intrigued by the notion of him playing on a line with Lander (another player who needs to step up but also needs quality linemate support).

 

[Fourier]

Again, lets define what we are talking about. Skating fast around the ice is almost useless, no one cares. Fast in hockey means fast making hockey plays, stop and start, stop and start constantly. You just said he has a slow first step. No one really cares how fast you are after you got a huge head start. I agree, he is fast that way. In the way that matters, he is not fast.

Watch him in games. He tends to look lumbering and then an opportunity arises and he is gone. In the playoffs and in the Memorial cup he generated numerous short handed break aways for example. He also gets to pucks in both zones despite a less than stellar first step because of his exceptional anticipation. You can't do this if you are functionally slow. He's not Pavel Bure, but comparisons to Alison or Andreychuk are way off.

Can he improve. Sure. But this is an aspect of his game that is easy to develop. Look at a guy like Lander. His skating is night and day better than it was even a couple of years ago.

 

[Fourier]

Meh. Draisaitl didn't show an ounce of development in the nhl in half a season last year. If he can't play in this league he shouldn't be here. This isn't a development league and we need to stop being a development team. If draisaitl plays like a legitimate nhl quality player he should be here. If he can't do that he shouldn't be trying to learn how on the fly.

I disagree with your assessment of his development in the NHL, but so be it. What I will say though is that it's a cliché to say the NHL is not a development league. It is and always will be in the sense that virtually every young player steps into the league with lots to learn.

In Draisailt's case it is adjusting to the pace of the game and to the space you have to make plays. In that respect the AHL is not the NHL so regardless of when he makes the jump that learning curve will be in front of him.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

To me speed isn't necessarily skating speed (which isn't his issue), but how quickly the puck goes to where it needs to be.

There's a lot of deception in seeing a 'slow-moving' player suddenly burst up a seam with speed you never thought he had.



Also I think Drai uses speed as an advantage to create timed opportunities, like being the trailer on a partial breakaway (like on the McDavid feed last game).

We know he can blitz up the ice as fast as anyone in the league, but using it to catch a player flat-footed in itself is another skill.

 

[Spawn]

In Draisailt's case it is adjusting to the pace of the game and to the space you have to make plays. In that respect the AHL is not the NHL so regardless of when he makes the jump that learning curve will be in front of him.

The ahl might not be the nhl, but it is a substantial step up from juniors. There of course will be a learning curve when he enters the nhl. But that curve would be less steep if he first got used to ahl pace/speed.

If he's not nhl calibre he shouldn't be here. That's all I'm saying. And I don't buy for a second that he wouldn't develop his game in the ahl. If he earns a spot out of camp I will be happy. But from my perspective he never once looked nhl ready for any meaningful stretch last year. Not in his first pre season game, his first nhl game, or anywhere along the way before being sent down. I don't know if he's any better yet because we haven't seen him against nhl calibre players in pre season games yet.

 

[McDeathbyCheerios*]

The ahl might not be the nhl, but it is a substantial step up from juniors. There of course will be a learning curve when he enters the nhl. But that curve would be less steep if he first got used to ahl pace/speed.

If he's not nhl calibre he shouldn't be here. That's all I'm saying. And I don't buy for a second that he wouldn't develop his game in the ahl. If he earns a spot out of camp I will be happy. But from my perspective he never once looked nhl ready for any meaningful stretch last year. Not in his first pre season game, his first nhl game, or anywhere along the way before being sent down. I don't know if he's any better yet because we haven't seen him against nhl calibre players in pre season games yet.

We do know he has improved by strides though. If it's enough if the only question

 

[Fourier]

The ahl might not be the nhl, but it is a substantial step up from juniors. There of course will be a learning curve when he enters the nhl. But that curve would be less steep if he first got used to ahl pace/speed.

If he's not nhl calibre he shouldn't be here. That's all I'm saying. And I don't buy for a second that he wouldn't develop his game in the ahl. If he earns a spot out of camp I will be happy. But from my perspective he never once looked nhl ready for any meaningful stretch last year. Not in his first pre season game, his first nhl game, or anywhere along the way before being sent down. I don't know if he's any better yet because we haven't seen him against nhl calibre players in pre season games yet.

I don't disagree that if he is not NHL calibre he should not be there. We do probably disagree though on what NHL calibre means. My guess is that he makes it. Nurse on the other hand I think will be in the AHL.

 

[LTIR]

Draisaitl looked pretty good to me... He has the great puck protection and retrieval skills.. Already on par with Pouliot if not better.. he did have his lost moments but I think big part of that can be blamed on lack of chemistry with Hall.. Hall had a very Yakupovish game last night and Yak looked Hall good.

 

[dustrock]

That passing play with McDavid to Sleppy was something else.

 

[The Bored Man]

He's ready.

 

[MessierII]

Yeah he's sowed up a spot. McClellan seems to love him too.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Training Camp MVP.

 

[McFlyingV]

Yeah he's sowed up a spot. McClellan seems to love him too.

McClellan and Chiarelli both seem to love him, and really how can you blame them? The only things that really need improvement in his game is his skating, strength, and his shot. All of these things will come with age after he gets a few off seasons of training under his belt. The rest of his game, the passing, the vision, the IQ, the puck protection. Thats just stuff that you can't teach and he has all of that in spades. He's going to be a gem in a few years.

 

[Broilers]

He's ready.

I am not that sure. He has complete top talent lines so far. 40 games in AHL would be an option.

 

[Fourier]

If you look at the forwards left in camp it seems clear that Draisaitl is on the team.

 

[GMofOilers]

He had his legs last night, which is good cause vs Jets he looked tired.

Hes got a spot on this team.

 

[McBooya42]

If you look at the forwards left in camp it seems clear that Draisaitl is on the team.

Agreed wholeheartedly. I would even go as far as saying he's taken Purcell's spot with McDavid and Hall. He's definitely played better with them to my eye at least.

 

[LTIR]

Interesting to see the difference in comments within one day...
Knee jerks much..

 

[McBooya42]

Interesting to see the difference in comments within one day...
Knee jerks much..

More like a week actually, but he's been arguably our best player in that time. No matter who he's played with, and the fact that he's played every game (please correct me if I'm wrong on that, as I may be) shows to me that he's ready. He's also showed some nice chemistry with McDavid, and been solid as a RW while still being stellar on the dot.