Leon Draisaitl (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)EDMONTON – Elite two-way players are tough to find.
Luckily for the Edmonton Oilers, they have a couple who fit the bill.
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Connor McDavid has played a good amount on the penalty kill, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is incredibly stealthy at stealing the puck away from opponents. But one Oilers superstar has proven himself to be a defensive juggernaut in the league this season.
And that’s Leon Draisaitl.
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When speaking to the media in Vegas after morning skate, head coach Kris Knoblauch was asked about Draisaitl. Specifically, his ability to be tasked with shutting down Jack Eichel’s line after scoring 100+ points this past year.
“Leon should win the Hart trophy,” Knoblauch said. “Maybe he doesn’t because of missing the last couple (of) weeks. I don’t think that’s enough for him to not win it.”
“That’s just my opinion.”
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But Knoblauch doesn’t stop at the Hart Trophy. He states his case for why Draisaitl should win the Selke Trophy, too.
“Also, best defensive forward,” Knoblauch revealed. “I don’t think he gets enough credit for that. If he was on the penalty kill regularly, he’s definitely in that conversation and getting that recognition…we haven’t needed Leon to kill penalties this year.”
“Leon has never neglected his defensive responsibilities. If I was to show clips on how to backcheck, how to work, and getting above the opposition, Leon would be the leading guy on all the clips I could find.”
That’s high praise for the goal-scoring leader of the regular season. Praise that neither the coach nor the player takes lightly.
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