Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl stands on the precipice of a monumental career milestone, sitting at 999 points as his team prepares to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night. The moment carries an intriguing subplot: the man potentially guarding the net for Pittsburgh is former Oiler Stuart Skinner, setting the stage for a dramatic reunion.
The Draft Day Dilemma: Draisaitl vs. Reinhart
As the hockey world watches, few will be observing more closely than former Oilers head coach and general manager Craig MacTavish. It was MacTavish, alongside chief amateur scout Stu MacGregor, who selected Draisaitl with the third overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. However, the decision was far from straightforward.
"We knew we were getting either Sam or Leon with (Aaron) Ekblad going first. We were torn between the two," MacTavish revealed. The internal debate pitted Draisaitl against fellow centre Sam Reinhart, now a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers.
The Oilers' pro scouts were divided. Ryan McGill, coaching Reinhart with the Kootenay Ice, was a strong advocate. Conversely, Dave Manson, who coached Draisaitl with the Prince Albert Raiders, passionately endorsed the German forward. "They both spoke so highly of the players," said MacTavish.
Seeing the Game Differently
Ultimately, the Oilers chose Draisaitl, a decision that has yielded a Hart Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, and four 50-goal seasons. Now with 416 goals and 583 assists in 823 games, his elite passing, particularly his backhand, is legendary. But MacTavish points to something less quantifiable: Draisaitl's preternatural hockey sense.
"He's got a better intuition on the ice than anybody on the team, I would argue," MacTavish stated, comparing him to teammate Connor McDavid. "Connor sees the plays, too... but I would argue that Leon sees the plays quicker."
He expanded on this rare gift, drawing a comparison to the greatest. "There aren't too many guys at the ice level that see plays you don't see in the stands. He was one of them (as a kid)... I mean Gretz did. Nobody had more on-ice awareness and intuition than he did in the history of the game. I don't think anybody will ever be like Gretz but Leon sees guys you don't."
From World Juniors Wonder to NHL Elite
MacTavish's first impression of Draisaitl came at the World Junior Championship, a year before his draft. "I thought 'who the hell is this guy?' He was like a 16 or a 17-year-old. He stood out," MacTavish recalled, noting the player's performance was amplified by a strong German team.
The following season in Prince Albert presented a different picture. "He got a bit frustrated. Sometimes frustration is a manifestation of competitiveness too, you know," MacTavish explained, dismissing concerns that have sometimes followed Draisaitl's career. "That's one of the reasons I never really cared too much of the visual frustration from Leon. I always thought that was overblown."
What sealed the deal for the Oilers was a perceived athletic edge. "At the time we thought Leon was a bit better skater than Reinhart, higher top-end speed," MacTavish said.
As the hockey world awaits point number 1,000, the story comes full circle. The player chosen after a intense draft-room debate now joins the NHL's most exclusive clubs, his unique vision and skill having validated that fateful choice a decade ago. All eyes will be on him—and perhaps his old friend in the opposing crease—when the puck drops in Pittsburgh.
