By Jeff D'Andrea

D’Andrea: Why Draisaitl needs to return to the Raiders

Dec 8, 2014 | 4:01 PM

Just mere moments after drafting Leon Draisaitl third overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish immediately showed how high his expectations were of his new pick.

In an interview after the pick, TSN’s James Duthie brought up the comparisons of Draisaitl to Los Angeles Kings pivot Anze Kopitar that the Oilers brass and others had made throughout the draft process.

“I know you don’t expect that right away—” Duthie was saying before MacTavish cut him off with, “oh yeah, we do.”

MacTavish and the Oilers inserted Draisaitl directly into their lineup as their second-line centre, dealing away Sam Gagner shortly after the draft’s conclusion.

In doing so, they created a very tough situation for a player who didn’t turn 19 years old until Oct. 27.

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As Raider fans know after seeing him the last two years, Draisaitl is a wonderful talent and an even better kid when you get the chance to talk to him. He’s coming off a 105-point season and he may very well turn into a game-changing, impact player at the NHL level like the skilled Kopitar at some stage.

But it won’t be this year.

Draisaitl has just six points in 27 games this season, which just feels weird to write after how well he’s played as a Raider. And it’s not like he’s been buried on the fourth line throughout the year either, he’s spent considerable time playing with the likes of David Perron, Nail Yakupov and Jordan Eberle on his wings.

The number one thing the Oilers should have on their mind with their top prospect in Draisaitl is making sure he develops into that wonderful talent at the NHL level.

It appears the reverse is true as his offensive production is tailing off. Draisaitl has produced just one assist in his 10 games and three points in his last 19 contests.

But with the situation the Oilers are in, how could he possibly be developing right now?

The Oilers are dead last in the NHL Western Conference and are already 14 points away from the final wild card spot.

Before beating the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, the Oilers were 11-game losing streak which dated back to Nov. 9. Their on Sunday victory was also their only win against a Western Conference team so far this year—which is mind-blowing because it’s December. It’s hard to progress and feel good about what you’re doing when you’re losing every game.

After their 11^th game without a win, Sportsnet’s Oilers reporter Mark Spector summed up the Draisaitl situation perfectly. 

“As an organization, the Oilers should be indicted for what they’re doing to 19-year-old centre Leon Draisaitl. He is being exposed at the NHL level and should be back in junior. But MacTavish messed up, couldn’t find any centres, and now a young prospect pays the price. This kid should go from the world juniors straight back to Prince Albert, and meet his new coach next fall in Edmonton.”

Unlike the Oilers, many other NHL teams have been patient with their draft picks in recent years, especially this season.

Of the 210 players drafted in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Draisaitl is one of just two players currently on a NHL roster—the other being first overall pick Aaron Ekblad with the Florida Panthers. Despite being a defenceman, Ekblad has 11 more points than Draisaitl on the year.

The only other two players to have appeared in the NHL from that class are second overall pick Sam Reinhart and late-first-rounder David Pastrnak. Reinhart played nine games with the Buffalo Sabres to start the season, but was then sent back down to the Kootenay Ice of the WHL. On Saturday, Pastrnak was recalled by the Boston Bruins to their AHL affiliate, Providence Bruins, after a five-game stint.

If he comes back

Even if Draisaitl comes back, that would create a headache for the Raiders. The Raiders currently have two Europeans on their roster in 19-year-old defenceman Tomas Andrlik and forward Simon Stransky, who will turn 17-years-old on Dec. 28.

Normally, I would say Andrlik would be the one to be moved, simply because the Raiders will need to use both an import and overage spot to keep him next year.  

But the defence core is so depleted right now that departing with Andrlik this season would be really tough to do. Hunter Warner’s season done to injury, Sawyer Lange’s injury that will keep him out indefinitely and captain Josh Morrissey gearing up for Team Canada World Junior Selection Camp starting Dec. 10. Unless all of that is shored up by the time Draisaitl comes back (if he does), then Andrlik will need to stay.

But getting rid of Stransky would hurt, as well.  

Stransky has 10 points in his last nine games for the Raiders and has really responded under new head coach Marc Habscheid. Stransky is also eligible to return for his 18 and 19-year-old seasons with the Raiders (and his 20-year-old season as a two-spotter). If they end up trading him or sending him back to the Czech, all the strides he’s already made this season could be all for naught.  

But at the end of the day, Draisaitl returning to the Raiders will never be a bad thing.

If he does, Draisaitl will dominate the WHL just like he did last year and develop his already sharp skillset.

But that seems very unlikely as long as he has an Oiler jersey on this year.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea