Oilers star Leon Draisaitl ‘not happy’ with how he’s playing

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At the media day before the Stanley Cup finals started in Florida Leon Draisaitl was asked how it felt playing in the shadow of Connor McDavid.

He said it didn’t bother him in the least.

“I know I’m a great player,” he said.

No false modesty, necessary.

Draisaitl is one of the top 10 players in the world.

But he also holds himself to a very high standard and before Game 6 on Friday morning, he didn’t duck any questions about his play against Florida. He only has two assists in the first five games.

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Now, maybe he’s hurt, but in 2022 he was playing through a high ankle sprain and still averaged two points a game.

“I’m not happy with the way I’m playing,” said Draisaitl, who still is third in overall playoff points with 30.

But while McDavid has been all-world against the Panthers, Draisaitl has seemed off. He has bobbled pucks over over-skated them, his patented shot from the face-off circle on the power play hasn’t had its usual zip.

“I haven’t found my game, I haven’t found my legs … it’s just not the standard I hold myself to,” the German said.

When Draisaitl was asked if his struggles might be because he has played with different linemates or whether it’s something Florida’s doing to stop his usual attack, he dismissed any excuses.

“It has nothing to do with either of those (reasons). I’ve always been able to come back from stretches where I haven’t been at my best. It’s just myself being better,” Draisaitl said. “I hold myself to extremely high standards and if I don’t get to that, obviously, I’m not happy with it. I’m very excited to come into tonight.”

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch feels Draisaitl is doing enough other things well, even if his offence is lacking with the Oilers down 3-2 in the series to the Panthers.

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“I think he’s being too hard on himself. He’s still been pretty good,” Knoblauch said.

“He’s played through injury (two years ago) and was unbelievable (32 points in 16 games). He’s a guy who is always first to the rink. He’s often there an hour before anybody else. He loves playing hockey.”

While the Oilers have won two straight to climb out of their 3-0 hole and coaches are usually leery about changing a humming lineup, Knoblauch wouldn’t hold himself to standing pat for Game 6.

There is a possibility Evander Kane, who has been playing with a sports hernia — or something worse that they’re not telling us about — and has sat for the past three games (maybe a doctor’s call), will play in the elimination game.

“He’s skating better (at practice Thursday, but on a fifth line with Sam Carrick and Sam Gagner). The rest has helped him. He’ll be a game-time decision,” Knoblauch said.

If Kane returns to the lineup, Knoblauch could maybe take out fourth-line centre Derek Ryan and move Ryan McLeod from left wing back to the middle.

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