- Leon Draisaitl introduced a crowbar as a new Oilers postgame award
- Ryan Shea got the first one after blocking five shots in a 4-3 overtime win over the Wild
- Read below for the video and how the crowbar fits with the Gretzky helmet
Leon Draisaitl just gave the Oilers a new postgame award, and it’s a crowbar.
The Oilers forward addressed the locker room after Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild, where he scored twice. Draisaitl reached into a drawer at his stall and explained what the team was adding to its celebration.
“Gonna add something to our postgame celebration,” Draisaitl said. “We got the f**king crowbar! This is going to the guy that f**king battled his ass off the hardest: Sheasy, five blocks.”
Watch the moment in the Oilers’ own video:
Defenseman Ryan Shea is the first crowbar winner. The 29-year-old didn’t record a point, but his five blocked shots led the team.
The crowbar doesn’t replace the Gretzky helmet. Edmonton started the season giving the player of the game an original Wayne Gretzky Oilers helmet, and Owen Michaels got the first one after scoring his first NHL goal against the Canucks on Oct. 1.
Last season, the Oilers handed out two awards after wins, a piece of a pump jack and a high-vis vest. Opening the year with just the helmet was a switch, so the crowbar brings the two-award setup back. The helmet looks like the prize for the most impactful player, and the crowbar sounds like the one for the hardest worker.
The win itself was a big one, too. Connor McDavid had three assists, including the setup on Evan Bouchard’s overtime winner, which we covered in our McDavid assists record story.
Edmonton is 7-1-1 and plays the Hurricanes next, so the helmet and crowbar should both have new homes soon.
