2023-08-01 18:13:57
VAUGHAN, Ont. — Leon Draisaitl still tastes sour, even 79 days after the Edmonton Oilers were knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
READ ALSO: Brown Is ‘The Perfect Addition’ For The Oilers, Says McDavid
But he will have to learn to live with it as he and his teammates look to the future, the forward admitted.
“It’s still there,” Draisaitl said before playing in the fourth annual Zach Hyman Golf Tournament Celebrity Classic on Monday at Eagles Nest Golf Club. “It never really goes away until you’ve finally made it, right?”
“But we have to look forward. We have to move on. I had plenty of time to think about it. Now is the time to prepare for the next season and do better when we are at the same stage. »
The Oilers were eliminated in six games by the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. For the second year in a row, they were shown the exit door by the eventual reigning Stanley Cup champions. In 2022, they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the Western final.
Draisaitl and his teammates expected to have learned enough from that tough setback to take another step forward last season. Expectations were even higher when the Oilers acquired veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm from the Nashville Predators on Feb. 28.
Eventually, even more pain awaited them.
Draisaitl took the defeat badly.
The 27-year-old forward showed a minus-4 differential and was shut out of the scoresheet for the third time in four games when the Oilers saw their season end with a 5-2 loss to the Golden Knights , May 14. He ended up accepting responsibility for why he and his team failed again.
“I have to take more on my shoulders, said Draisaitl, emotional, after this match. I haven’t been good tonight. It’s always difficult. The adversaries are waiting for me with a firm footing, I know that. But I have to find a way to be better. »
He is working on this aspect this summer.
Draisaitl recently arrived in southern Ontario to work with Hyman and Connor McDavid, among others. The goal: do whatever it takes to overcome the hurdles that stand between the Oilers and their first Cup win in the McDavid-Draisaitl era.
Even if it means being motivated by the crushing disappointment of being eliminated by Vegas, a rival from the Pacific Division. Then to see the Golden Knights defeat the Florida Panthers to sign the first title in their history.
“They’re a good team,” Draisaitl said. They have depth. their keeper [Adin Hill] played very well in the playoffs, which is essential. But I don’t think (loss) is something we can’t handle as a team.
“There is learning that we need to do in the years to come. We have to learn from a series like the one against Vegas. They have a really good team. We have a very good team. Florida is a very good team. Each team has the chance to win if they make the playoffs. You could see it.
“You just have to learn, move on, and make sure it doesn’t happen again. »
In an effort not to see history repeat itself, the Oilers signed Connor Brown on July 1. The 29-year-old forward, who has 216 points in 448 NHL games, saw his 2022-23 season come to an end after just four games with the Washington Capitals after suffering a right knee injury on Oct. 17.
Draisaitl finished second in the NHL with 128 points, 25 behind McDavid. He says he understands a team can’t rely on just two players to win a championship, and he’s hoping Brown can be a key part of helping the Oilers finally get to the top.
“He’s going to bring us a lot,” Draisaitl said. He obviously had a difficult year, so we have to give him some time to find his way with the group. But he impressed everyone throughout his career. I am very happy that he is with us. I can’t wait to see how he can help us. »
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