Oilers Leon Draisaitl: Pure Force on Ice
If you watch Leon Draisaitl play, you notice a few things almost immediately: the size, the speed, and the way he seems impossible to stop once he gets going. Saturday’s 7-3 loss to Minnesota wasn’t his best team night, but it was another reminder of why Draisaitl is one of the most gifted players in the league. He scored early, unassisted, and with that single play tied Mark Messier for fourth on Edmonton’s all-time points list. That’s not just numbers — that’s history.
One thing that makes Draisaitl special is his size.
Part of what makes Draisaitl special is the way he uses his body. His 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame gives him a physical presence few can match. He doesn’t need to throw big hits to be physical; he is a physical presence. Combine that with elite stickhandling, and you have a player who can hold the puck through traffic, wait for a seam to open, and deliver a pass that leaves teammates wide open. Watching him thread pucks between defensemen or find a winger streaking down the ice is watching a masterclass in vision and timing.
And yes, he’s fast. Big guys aren’t always quick on their feet, but Draisaitl skates like a smaller forward with the strength of a power forward. It’s not just about raw speed either — it’s how he shifts, accelerates, and positions his body. He can protect the puck, pivot through pressure, and maintain balance in ways that make him almost impossible to knock off his line. Put simply, he’s a centre-ice nightmare for anyone trying to contain him.
Draisaitl is an elite passer.
Then there’s the passing. The best forwards can shoot, but the truly elite can pass without telegraphing their moves. Draisaitl is that guy. He sees the ice differently. He’ll carry the puck into a dangerous spot, freeze a defenceman with a feint, and slip a pass to a teammate who has just arrived in the right place. It’s effortless to watch but devastating to defend against.
Through 53 games this season, he’s got 78 points, 27 goals, and 152 shots on net. Numbers like that speak for themselves, but what really stands out is how he gets those points: with strength, skill, vision, and timing. You can’t game-plan someone like Draisaitl out of a contest. You can try to contain him, you can double-team him, you can hope he gets tired — but all too often, that creates openings for someone else because he draws the attention so easily.
Leon Draisaitl is a force of nature on the ice.
In short, Leon Draisaitl is a force of nature on ice. A power forward who thinks like a sniper, a centre who controls the tempo, a passer who seems to know where teammates will be before they do. When he’s on the ice, Edmonton is dangerous. And even in a tough team night like Saturday, he reminds everyone why he’s one of the most complete, unstoppable players in the game today.