NHL Be Ready: Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl Sends a Clear Demand

Leon Draisaitl hadn’t scored in eight games, and for a player of his caliber, that was a bit strange. Hard to call it a “slump”, no goals in eight games felt foreign, even if he was still producing points, potting 15 assists in those contests.

On Tuesday night, he broke that goalless run in a significant way. After the game, he talked about his production and the team finding their stride, making it clear that the Oilers demand more out of themselves and they’re finally delivering.

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During that so-called drought, Draisaitl was producing, driving play, winning battles, and remaining a constant problem for opposing defenses. But what Draisaitl does is score. So, to see him not get a goal created questions. He was asked whether he’s happy when he’s not scoring.

“I’m happy because I’m creating other looks for guys that I’m on the ice with, so as long as that part of the game is there, I’m happy, of course. I was never really in a panic mode cuz I didn’t score in six or seven games, whatever it was, but I felt like I had looks. I felt like the other parts of my games were there, and they’re good, so I think it’s just a matter of time for it to, you know, bounce in.”

Bounce in they did, and on Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames, that narrative collapsed in one emphatic statement. Draisaitl scored a hat trick, three power-play goals.

This Was Never About Struggling

Draisaitl didn’t look like a player searching for his game. He looked like one waiting for the dam to break. As he pointed out afterward, the Oilers’ overall play has been trending upward for weeks, not days.

“Everyone’s contributing, everyone’s chipping in,” Draisaitl said. “When we get to that point, we’re a tough team to handle.”

Connor McDavid’s five-assist performance grabbed headlines, while the Oilers got contributions from their top guys, particularly a healthy top-six. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two goals, Zach Hyman scored one, and added two assists.

That context matters. Edmonton didn’t fix one problem — they fixed several. The lineup is getting healthier, roles are clearer, and the chaos of an early-season travel-heavy schedule is behind them. When that happens, players like Draisaitl don’t need to force anything. They let the game come to them.

The Timing Matters

The Oilers head into the break healthy, confident, and staring at a home-heavy January schedule loaded with opportunity. Draisaitl breaking through in this fashion isn’t just symbolic — it’s dangerous.

Because when a player puts up 15 points without scoring and then finds his finishing touch again, it’s not a bounce-back.

It’s a warning. Draisaitl explained, “We demand to be a playoff team. When you start the season the way we did, nobody’s happy, nobody likes it. We’ve got better, we know we can be better, and we have a lot better in here. Everyone stepped up and started playing better. Now we’re rolling a little better.”

Next: Insider Reveals What’s Next on the Oilers’ Wishlist