Leon Draisaitl on 10 Years of Oilers’ Line Chaos — “I’m Good With It”

When asked about his constantly being asked to play with different linemates this season, many of whom are not stars in their own right, Leon Draisaitl didn’t complain. The Edmonton Oilers superstar is used to the changing trios on his line and embraces the role of getting to play with different wingers.

Draisaitl has been doing this long enough to know the drill — and that includes never knowing who he’ll be playing with from night to night.

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“I think it all starts with mindset. I’ve played with a lot of different guys — it’s been like that for 10 years now — so I’m used to it. There are times when I like it. We’ve got a lot of great players on this team, and I enjoy playing with a lot of them, so I’m good with it.”

On one hand, Draisaitl has proven he can produce with almost anyone. The Oilers have leaned on his versatility for what feels like forever, sliding wingers in and out and trusting that the results will follow. It’s been asked of him more than Connor McDavid, who would probably take the same approach, but typically gets the best wingers on his top line — currently Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Maybe that’s not fair to Draisaitl. He could be playing with McDavid. He should be getting top guys on his line. However, the Oilers move deck chairs around consistently, tonight taking Jack Roslovic off his line and putting the returning Kasperi Kapanen there.

“Ideally, you want a little more security and consistency in your lineup. When lines change every night, things can get chaotic. But we’ve also had success without that at times, so there’s a fine line.”

As for What He Sees Playing with Kapanen

Kapanen might not be a typical second-line guy, but he’s coming back from an injury with a ton of energy and he’s looking to make an impact.

Draisaitl noted, “We’re excited to have him back. More than anything, we’re excited for him as a person. It’s been a long year for him — rehabbing, not being around the group — that’s really tough. He brings great energy, and it’s good to have him back playing hockey again. That’s the most important thing right now.”

For Draisaitl, it’s simply a reality that he’s going to get different wingers and be asked to produce. At times, his game will suffer. He’s adapted, thrived, and learned to manage the chaos, but he’s also gone several games without a goal. The Oilers have to be careful that they’re not asking him to drag people along to the point his production dips.

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