Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers looks on
(Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Leon Draisaitl addresses the unique challenge of playing in hockey-obsessed Canada
  • The Oilers remain Canada’s last hope to end a 32-year Stanley Cup drought
  • Read below for video of Draisaitl’s media availability and Canadian hockey comments

Leon Draisaitl isn’t buying the narrative that playing hockey in Canada is too much pressure to handle.

The Edmonton Oilers star addressed the spotlight that comes with playing north of the border as his team becomes the focus of Canadian hockey fans following Toronto’s elimination.

“The pressure is higher here, of course, from media, fans, the expectations, that’s the way it is,” Draisaitl said. “It’s a hockey country. It starts with hockey and ends with hockey in this country.”

But the German forward isn’t fazed. “I don’t know if teams feel that they get under pressure with that,” he said. “I’m not the right person to answer that. But we can handle it, and we’re excited to get back to playing.”

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The contrast with Toronto’s situation hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans.

“Difference between McDavid and Draisaitl compared to Matthews and Marner. Reason why these guys have won 5 rounds in the past 2 years while the Leafs with the big two have 2 in 9,” commented one fan on X.

Leon’s confidence is backed by results. The German center posted 106 points in 71 games this season, earning him a Hart Trophy finalist spot.

Draisaitl has been equally impressive in the playoffs, scoring 16 points in 11 games during Edmonton’s current run. During Round 2 vs. Vegas, he took on more defensive responsibility and helped shut down VGK top-line center Jack Eichel.

The Oilers are now Canada’s last hope to end a 32-year Stanley Cup drought after Toronto’s Game 7 collapse against Florida. They’ll face a familiar foe in Dallas, who they knocked out in last year’s conference finals.

For Draisaitl, who recently became the NHL’s highest-paid player at $14 million annually, the pressure of playing in a Canadian market isn’t a burden – it’s fuel for success.

“The pressure is higher here…we can handle it.”

After pushing Florida to Game 7 in last year’s Final, Draisaitl and the Oilers look primed for another deep run.

With the team embracing the Canadian spotlight rather than shying away from it, hockey’s holy grail could finally be heading back to Canada.