Edmonton Oilers: Top 10 moments from 2015

Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Number Five: Draisaitl and Hall breaking out

Let’s rewind once again here.

Last year, Leon Draisaitl was sent down to the WHL joining the Kelowna Rockets on a memorial cup run. In 37 games, he looked over like he was barely keeping his head above water, being thrown in the second line centre spot where he produced only 2 goals and 9 points in those 37 games. However, once in Kelowna, Leon Draisaitl started to show why he was taken 3rd overall in the 2014 NHL entry draft.

In only 32 games in Kelowna, Draisaitl would produce a whopping 53 points for the WHL power house. Sure, there were arguments about Kelowna already being a strong enough team, but Draisaitl was a dominant driving force for the Rockets in the games he played last season. Unfortunately, they would come up just short, losing in the Memorial Cup Final in overtime against the Oshawa Generals. It was there that Draisaitl joined teammate Taylor Hall as a Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as Memorial Cup Most Valuable Player.

During Development Camp and Training Camp, with eyes on Connor McDavid and Darnell Nurse, Draisaitl looked like he belonged in the NHL. Which was shocking, as he was the final cut of the team. He was reportedly upset, I couldn’t blame him there. However, while in the AHL, he did not produce: in six games, he produced a goal and an assist.

However, things changed after he was called up for the October 29th tilt against the Canadiens, where he matched his 2014-15 goal total in the single game. It was only a sign of things to come.

In only 25 games played this year, Draisaitl has been a complete monster, posting 30 points during that span, where at the time of writing this, he is currently tied for 22nd in league scoring, despite playing almost ten games fewer than most other players. Some of the player that Leon Draisaitl is currently outscoring include:

Matt Duchene, Nathan MacKinnon, Claude Girioux, Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Filip Forsberg, Jeff Carter.

That’s quite the list for him to be rising above. More so that I’ve noticed from Leon Draisaitl is how effective he is when he’s on the ice. He’s very hard to knock off the puck. His skating, his biggest knock, is looking more like a strength. Those first few strides no longer look as choppy as they were last year. He looks confident. And he’s producing like a mad man.

However, he’s been pure magic with his found money line mate: Taylor Hall, who is also having one helluva season so far.

Right now, Taylor Hall after 35 games played, has 15 goals and 39 points, which puts him in fourth place as of the time of writing this piece.

This is after a season where Hall was injured and produced only a career low 38 points in a career low 53 games (not counting the lockout shortened season). The best part about Taylor Hall’s play is how he’s shut up his critics. Remember, this is only a year ago where people were pointing at Hall that he was a loser, that Hall did not have the intangibles or character to be a true leader for the Edmonton Oilers.

Kurt Leavins here at Oilonwhyte.com wrote this article about Taylor Hall’s “haters” about four months ago. There were your protypical “Hall’s a floater, pouter, floats back to his zone, isn’t a leader” non sense in the comments.

Yet, Taylor Hall continues to give his harshest critics some well deserved crow. Only in the top 5 of league scoring. Only a +13 (although +/- isn’t the greatest stat), he’s been decent in terms of possession.

Right now, Hall deserves the Captaincy on his sweater. He’s the MVP of the Edmonton Oilers so far this season.

Both of them, Hall and Draisaitl, have been the most productive duo for the Oilers and are in with some excellent company.