Player Discussion Leon Draisaitl - 2019 All-Star

[Pucklington]

So if anyone wants to talk about his good plays, they shouldn't because the whole team was playing well too. Really unfair to single out one guy in that case.

I'm not allowed to disagree with you? If you post your opinion, than expect people to respond.

If you don't like criticism, than don't post.

 

[Drivesaitl]

IMO you actually undersold Drai's abilities earlier in the season trying to deflect criticism from him (60 points). What we are seeing now is the Drai that got Chia to pony up to have him locked and loaded for 8 seasons. Like I said earlier I see him in the next tier below the Matthews and Eichel's of the world and he is playing like he belongs in that tier right now. It looks like all 3 of our big dogs have elevated their games this season and so have Klefbom and Larsson. If we can get the special teams fixed and solid goaltending we are a team to be reckoned with.

Again, I said 60something points, and that was at the time that Yama, who I consider completely useless presently at the NHL level was glued on his line. The org seemed stubbornly opposed to do such sensible things as put Rieder on his line. I was wondering if it was another season where Drasaitl gets recycled dregs to play with.

if your quote me outside of the context its going to look odd. Certainly I comprehend the skills that Drasaitl possesses, but as we was even with McD and Nurse, a player as ill suited as Yama can bring production down.

 

[Little Fury]

I'm not allowed to disagree with you? If you post your opinion, than expect people to respond.

If you don't like criticism, than don't post.

What point are you disagreeing with me on specifically because I have no idea what you're arguing.

I said Leon made some bad plays and you said that it's unfair to point that out because the team as a whole was playing poorly in that stretch. I think that's completely irrelevant to the question of Draisaitl's play in this game which was, on balance, positive.

 

[Draiskull]

Other than his giveaways, no one should have a single complaint against Draisaitl now. He is finally moving his feet and using his linemates effectively. His hands around the net are better than before.

He can even be excused for half his giveaways since they are linked to him creating offensive chances. Its just the defensive zone ones and the cough ups at opposition blue line that hurt the team.

Top giveaways so far in NHL:

1. Dman
2.Dman
3. Larkin (F)
4. Draisaitl (F)
5. Dman
6.Dman
7.Dman
8.Dman
9. Klefbom
10. Dman
11. Russell
12. Nurse
13.Dman
14.Dman
15. Dman

Also, first 6 games he was -7
next 6 games +7

It is turning around nicely for him and the team.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Just going to throw something out here that a lot of star players, if they get injured, it happens early in a season, this being the case in all sports. particularly with bigger players its even perhaps wise to start slow and not make power forward moves and rush bulling through players in the first games. As much as you practice, you don't do it with in game resistance and with the same degree of players hanging onto you like you have once the season starts in earnest.

Slow starting is even careful starting and a method, potentially to not over exert before the muscle groups are well established and ready to. That and coordination gets better as a few games are under your belt. I think we forget hockey is one of the most difficult, and dangerous, high speed games to play and that if you go balls out before you are completely on top of your game there can be risks due to that.

Of course we're used to seeing Connor McDavid who gets the hot rod, stored in the garage for months, and smokes it down the dragstrip the first damn time out. Its uncanny, and hardly anybody is ever that good at something to be able to do that from a flying start. Its just uncanny how good McD is in first games back.

I'm just a plug, and was never any good, but it would take a week or two just to get confidence in my skating again. So that I would only try certain things after I'd been on the ice for hours. This is disconnected but in the Figure skating world its considered foolish, and dangerous to try your top jumps until you've had a tonne of icetime in a new season.

 

[Draiskull]

Just going to throw something out here that a lot of star players, if they get injured, it happens early in a season, this being the case in all sports. particularly with bigger players its even perhaps wise to start slow and not make power forward moves and rush bulling through players in the first games. As much as you practice, you don't do it with in game resistance and with the same degree of players hanging onto you like you have once the season starts in earnest.

Slow starting is even careful starting and a method, potentially to not over exert before the muscle groups are well established and ready to. That and coordination gets better as a few games are under your belt. I think we forget hockey is one of the most difficult, and dangerous, high speed games to play and that if you go balls out before you are completely on top of your game there can be risks due to that.

Of course we're used to seeing Connor McDavid who gets the hot rod, stored in the garage for months, and smokes it down the dragstrip the first damn time out. Its uncanny, and hardly anybody is ever that good at something to be able to do that from a flying start. Its just uncanny how good McD is in first games back.

I'm just a plug, and was never any good, but it would take a week or two just to get confidence in my skating again. So that I would only try certain things after I'd been on the ice for hours. This is disconnected but in the Figure skating world its considered foolish, and dangerous to try your top jumps until you've had a tonne of icetime in a new season.

so there is still hope for Khaira then... Got it!

 

[Spawn]

Other than his giveaways, no one should have a single complaint against Draisaitl now. He is finally moving his feet and using his linemates effectively. His hands around the net are better than before.

He can even be excused for half his giveaways since they are linked to him creating offensive chances. Its just the defensive zone ones and the cough ups at opposition blue line that hurt the team.

Top giveaways so far in NHL:

1. Dman
2.Dman
3. Larkin (F)
4. Draisaitl (F)
5. Dman
6.Dman
7.Dman
8.Dman
9. Klefbom
10. Dman
11. Russell
12. Nurse
13.Dman
14.Dman
15. Dman

Also, first 6 games he was -7
next 6 games +7

It is turning around nicely for him and the team.

1. Larkin
2. Draisaitl
3. Hall
4. Aho
5. Mantha
6. Pastrnak
7. Malkin
8. Vesey
9. Tavares
10. Kopitar
11. Getzlaf
12. Gudreau
13. Kessel
14. Schmaltz
15. Pettersson

The bold are all above a point per game right now. That is giveaways for forwards.

It's pretty standard that the top of the giveaway list for forwards is almost always among the best producers in the league.

When you have the puck on your stick a lot you're going to end up with more giveaways.

Of course in an ideal world a player doesn't ever turn the puck over. And of course some of Drais giveaways are bad. But it's an inevitability of guys who carry the puck a lot. Even McDavid is in the top 30.

 

[Mr Positive]

1. Larkin
2. Draisaitl
3. Hall
4. Aho
5. Mantha
6. Pastrnak
7. Malkin
8. Vesey
9. Tavares
10. Kopitar
11. Getzlaf
12. Gudreau
13. Kessel
14. Schmaltz
15. Pettersson

The bold are all above a point per game right now.

It's pretty standard that the top of the giveaway list for forwards is almost always among the best producers in the league.

When you have the puck on your stick a lot you're going to end up with more giveaways.

Of course in an ideal world a player doesn't ever turn the puck over. And of course some of Drais giveaways are bad. But it's an inevitability of guys who carry the puck a lot. Even McDavid is in the top 30.

not all giveaways are equal. I do think that Drai's giveaways are the good kind. Giving it away in your own zone is really bad. Giving it away while you are on offense and gambling is okay. I couldn't find giveway stats from a long time ago, but I bet Gretzky would rank very high in all time # of giveaways

 

[Spawn]

not all giveaways are equal. I do think that Drai's giveaways are the good kind. Giving it away in your own zone is really bad. Giving it away while you are on offense and gambling is okay. I couldn't find giveway stats from a long time ago, but I bet Gretzky would rank very high in all time # of giveaways

I think it's fair to say that no giveway is a good giveaway. But it is going to happen when a player carries the puck and tries to make passes. It's going to happen in the offensive end and the defensive end. Hell, RNH had a killer of a one on the stick of a Chicago defender right in our slot. Thanfully he made a great recovery and was able to strip the puck back.

All of that also ignores that the giveaway/takeaway/hit stats are all almost entirely worthless in terms of accuracy. Judged completely differently in each rink with all kinds of biases. I remember looking at some of the stats a year or two ago and some teams would go from having the most giveaways in the league at home to having some of the least on the road.

Every arena ranks them differently.

 

[Da McBomb]

Starting to remind me of Playoff Drai.

 

[SaltNPeca]

IMO both sides were right, he wasn't looking all that hot in preseason or to start the year in spite of being a point a game. Now that he's rolling, the sky is the limit for him.

Preseason points are meaningless for a $8.5M player. U serious?

1.0+ PTS/G or Bad Start, pick one.

You pundits are up in here continuing to talk about his Bad/Slow Start... like every star player (including young stars) will come out of the gate absolute gang busters, keep the pace all 82, then go beast mode in playoffs? With your perception of what YOU THINK NHL hockey is you're going to be persistently disappointed. The team went 6-3-1, Leon was 1.0+ PTS/G, was shuffled around, scored on the PP (big problem last year), and built some momentum. INB4: +/- stats.

And PLS GO with the $8.5M crying.
The following are slow starts for that salary range: Marleau 9 points (3G), Getzlaf 11 points (3G), & Kopitar 6 points (4G)

 

[CycloneSweep]

Preseason points are meaningless for a $8.5M player. U serious?

1.0+ PTS/G or Bad Start, pick one.

You pundits are up in here continuing to talk about his Bad/Slow Start... like every star player (including young stars) will come out of the gate absolute gang busters, keep the pace all 82, then go beast mode in playoffs? With your perception of what YOU THINK NHL hockey is you're going to be persistently disappointed. The team went 6-3-1, Leon was 1.0+ PTS/G, was shuffled around, scored on the PP (big problem last year), and built some momentum. INB4: +/- stats.

And PLS GO with the $8.5M crying.
The following are slow starts for that salary range: Marleau 9 points (3G), Getzlaf 11 points (3G), & Kopitar 6 points (4G)

You do realize the issues people had with Drai were defensively and that his line was doing terribly. He was putting up points when he was put up with McDavid 5v5 and on the PP but his second line was doing terrible all over the ice. Now he is doing well period

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Preseason points are meaningless for a $8.5M player. U serious?

1.0+ PTS/G or Bad Start, pick one.

You pundits are up in here continuing to talk about his Bad/Slow Start... like every star player (including young stars) will come out of the gate absolute gang busters, keep the pace all 82, then go beast mode in playoffs? With your perception of what YOU THINK NHL hockey is you're going to be persistently disappointed. The team went 6-3-1, Leon was 1.0+ PTS/G, was shuffled around, scored on the PP (big problem last year), and built some momentum. INB4: +/- stats.

And PLS GO with the $8.5M crying.
The following are slow starts for that salary range: Marleau 9 points (3G), Getzlaf 11 points (3G), & Kopitar 6 points (4G)

He wasn't playing well to start the season, newsflash people can play well without putting up points and people can play poorly while getting points.

He is playing well now so the timing of your post is a few weeks late and many dollars short.

 

[StevenF1919]

saying draisaitl could play better to start the year would have been thing. Some posters took it far beyond that though and concluded that draisaitl was a product of McDavid and not worth his contract or status on the club.

Glad he is proving them wrong like I knew he would. This is a big center with world class skills, some nastiness who has shown up in big games (playoffs, World Cup).

His 5v5 P/60 away from McDavid is 1.22, which ranks 9th on the Oilers after Khaira and Benning. He's got a negative CF%, GF%, and xGF% away from him too, and a horrendoues HDCF% of 42.65. He's a product of McDavid and most definitely not worth $8.5M. He's still a very, very good complimentary winger but players of that caliber are not worth that cap hit.

 

[Oilhawks]

His 5v5 P/60 away from McDavid is 1.22, which ranks 9th on the Oilers after Khaira and Benning. He's got a negative CF%, GF%, and xGF% away from him too, and a horrendoues HDCF% of 42.65. He's a product of McDavid and most definitely not worth $8.5M. He's still a very, very good complimentary winger but players of that caliber are not worth that cap hit.

This again? Guess we had better trade him for a lower cap downgrade before the cat gets out of the bag. Then we'll have 2 players of top 6 talent (and only one of 1st line caliber)! Yahoo!

Leon Draisaitl was not going to get paid $6 million a year by any GM after the playoffs he had. Give it a rest. His contract is somewhere around #40 of management f*** ups in regards to importance.

Welcome back, not surprised to see you now.

 

[Zaddy]

His 5v5 P/60 away from McDavid is 1.22, which ranks 9th on the Oilers after Khaira and Benning. He's got a negative CF%, GF%, and xGF% away from him too, and a horrendoues HDCF% of 42.65. He's a product of McDavid and most definitely not worth $8.5M. He's still a very, very good complimentary winger but players of that caliber are not worth that cap hit.

Ah, we're back to this eh?

His numbers with Rieder and Chiasson look pretty good. 50.89 CF%, 83.33 GF%, 58.06 HDCF%.

It's almost like chemistry and having half-decent linemates matter. Remind me, how is Looch and Yamamoto doing in the NHL right now? How many goals have Lucic scored in the last 63 games? How did he look with McDavid against the Flames? Wasn't killing plays or anything was he? Nah he's fine. Better blame the center.

Any other actual good Oilers player you want to take a dump on? You got Larsson and Drai, who's next? RNH? McDavid? Klefbom?

 

[StevenF1919]

There's a reason why he was put back with McDavid.

 

[Missing smitty]

There's a reason why he was put back with McDavid.

Because they have no depth scoring. Stop pretending you are some kind of hockey savant, it's pretty clear you watch games in Excel....

 

[CornKicker]

There's a reason why he was put back with McDavid.

yeah, because reider iasnt around to carry him

 

[TheNumber4]

I have minimal issues with Draisaitl, the player. He puts up points but can be/should be smarter with the puck at times. Forcing plays and even being shoved off the puck and losing his 1 on 1 battle with a D-man are happening more frequently this season however. But he still has a knack for putting up those points.

My biggest issue with him is his contract. Paid to be a #1 Center based on like a 10 game sample size with mixed results centering his own line. He's essentially a 8.5M McDavid Specialist Winger. Which is stupid management of Cap. McDavid's wings should be used to pump up the values of nobodies like Maroon and Rattie, not used to keep afloat the value of an overpaid centerman.

 

[McBeastMode]

He is getting frustrated, with this team....

 

[DaGap]

14/23 He either was assisted by McDavid or Assited to McDavid

 

[Draiskull]

This team doesnt deserve Draisaitl and we are ruining him.. #FreeDrai

 

[PBandJ]

He is getting frustrated, with this team....

I don't blame him. Being one of two great players on a team full of scrubs has to suck.

 

[Zaddy]

I have minimal issues with Draisaitl, the player. He puts up points but can be/should be smarter with the puck at times. Forcing plays and even being shoved off the puck and losing his 1 on 1 battle with a D-man are happening more frequently this season however. But he still has a knack for putting up those points.

My biggest issue with him is his contract. Paid to be a #1 Center based on like a 10 game sample size with mixed results centering his own line. He's essentially a 8.5M McDavid Specialist Winger. Which is stupid management of Cap. McDavid's wings should be used to pump up the values of nobodies like Maroon and Rattie, not used to keep afloat the value of an overpaid centerman.

He did well with Rieder and Chiasson...the problem of the Oilers is the complete lack of forward depth. There's only so much you can do playing with the likes of Lucic and Yamamoto. Why is this concept so hard to grasp for some people? He got results playing with Rieder and Chiasson who honestly are probably 3rd liners and nothing more. So to say he can't do anything without McDavid is super disingenuous. He hasn't played with even average top6 talent in this league. Drai can't force a guy like Lucic to start scoring goals or 5'8 Yamamoto to not get muscled off the puck.