Anyone believing Leon Draisaitl doesn’t belong on the short list of the best players in the NHL just needed to tune in Thursday for a reality check. The way he dominated the Edmonton Oilers’ first game this season without captain Connor McDavid provided the latest evidence that he’s among the elite of the elite. Advertisement Draisaitl was easily the top player on the ice in a 5-1 win over the Nashville Predators .
He scored two skillful goals and set up linemate Viktor Arvidsson 37 seconds into the game for his first tally as an Oiler. His performance was an absolute clinic. Better yet, it was an effort that couldn’t have come at a better time considering the Oilers looked listless after McDavid sustained a lower-body injury on the first shift of a 6-1 drubbing by Columbus on Monday.
“He did it right from the start,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters in Nashville. “He knew with Connor not being here that we needed someone stepping up. Everyone needed to, but the biggest one is your best player.
“Leon is definitely our best player. He didn’t disappoint.” Spooky Scary S̶m̶a̶s̶h̶v̶i̶l̶l̶e̶ Draisaitl #LetsGoOilers pic.
twitter.com/6kAJFIJ3k6 — Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 1, 2024 The way he froze Predators goalie Juuse Saros before feeding Arvidsson was sublime. The way he grabbed hold of a loose puck at the offensive blue line, darted in and beat Saros stick side in the second period felt instinctual.
The way he powered his .
