Connor McDavid’s injury opens the door for Leon Draisaitl to prove he’s worth $112 million. Of course, there’s no denying Draisaitl is worth every penny. He could be the undisputed best player on any team other than the Edmonton Oilers.
However, when Draisaitl inked his eight-year, $112 million extension prior to this season, some folks raised questions about his value. In particular, some had concerns about the Oilers overpaying for the 29-year-old superstar.
Well, if there are any lingering doubts, McDavid’s injury thrusts Draisaitl into the spotlight. Now, Draisaitl bears the responsibility of carrying an Oilers club that’s struggled out of the gate this season.
Then again, Draisaitl took a major step on Thursday night in Nashville, to prove he’s up to the task. Draisaitl notched two goals and an assist in the Oilers’ 5-1 win at the Bridgestone Arena. He earned the game’s First Star, showing no signs of buckling under the pressure.
That’s why superstars get paid the big bucks. They rise to the occasion when things hit the fan. In fact, there are times when struggling teams use devastating injuries such as McDavid’s, to rally together and truly gel as a club.
So, if there’s a silver lining to McDavid’s injury situation, it could be that. The Edmonton Oilers have found the need to rally as a club instead of letting their captain bear the entire weight of the world on his shoulders.
That psychological turnaround starts with Draisaitl leading the way. Of course, Draisaitl’s not perfect, but if there ever was anyone who can fill McDavid’s enormous skates, it’s him.
Draisaitl makes McDavid’s absence more bearable
When teams lose their superstars, they tend to crumble. That usually happens to teams centered around a star, with depth players filling out roles. But in Edmonton’s case, the depth on the roster is impressive.
Beyond Draisaitl, highly talented players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard, and Jeff Skinner are there to pick up the slack. Then, there are wily vets like Corey Perry and Adam Henrique, who know what it takes to win.
However, it’s Draisaitl’s presence that makes McDavid’s absence more bearable. Draisaitl gives the Oilers that all-important figurehead that can lead the team every game.
Without Draisaitl, the Oilers might have had a much harder time filling out McDavid’s crucial leadership role. Moving forward, the Oilers must take advantage of this opportunity to rally around Draisaitl as he leads the charge.
Sure, losing McDavid stings, but at the very least, this unfortunate situation allows the club to push the reset button and turn things around. There’s plenty of hockey left to be played this season. So, it’s not too late to adjust to hit the ground running.
Just look at what happened last season.