As the NHL regular season approaches its halfway point, it's time to take a closer look at the performance of Leon Draisaitl. The German forward has been a force to be reckoned with once again this season, putting up some impressive numbers and leading his team to a solid comeback this season.
Let's start with the basics. Draisaitl currently sits 24th in the league in points with 35 in 31 games, which is slightly lower than he would like, but with the team's slow start, a dip in his stats would be expected. Normally near the top of the league in goals Draisaitl only has 10 so far this season.
But beyond the numbers, Draisaitl's play on the ice has been nothing spectacular. His scoring ability is hopefully will return as the team improves, be he still has made some incredible plays that have left fans and analysts alike in awe. Whether it's finding the back of the net with a laser of a shot or setting up his teammates with a seeing-eye pass, Draisaitl's skill is still there.
Overall, I would give Draisaitl a B+ for his performance so far this season. He's been absolutely dominant offensively and has provided the leadership that his team needs to succeed. If Draisiaitl can turn it on, the Oilers are in a good position to make a deep playoff run this year. If he can continue his impressive play and improve his defensive game, there's no telling how far he can take his team.
No one is perfect and that goes for Draisaitl as well. One area where he could improve is in his defensive play. For some reason when I watch Draisaitl, he never looks to be skating back fast, unless it is his mistake that causes the turnover. So, I would like to see him put in more effort in his backcheck.