29 h. ago Who is the NHL's deadliest dual scoring threat? It's definitely Draisaitl

Seems like we’ve been talking about Leon Draisaitl quite a bit at the Cult of Hockey lately. Pre-game Saturday, when I wrote of his impending return to a depleted Edmonton Oilers line-up badly in need of a boost. Post-game, when David Staples awarded him the highest grade of any Oiler after yet another brilliant performance by #29 […]

Events

43 h. ago Is there any doubt? Leon Draisaitl is this year's Most Valuable Player

If Leon Draisaitl lost any ground in the race for the NHL’s Hart and Ted Lindsay awards because he sat out four games and dropped to third in league scoring, he made all of it back in one giant leap Saturday night. Might as well call it “one giant leap for mankind” because it was […]

Other

51 h. ago And the legend of the Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl continues to grow: 9 Things

What a hockey game Saturday night! The National Hockey League cheats its fans when it only schedules the Battle of Alberta three times in a season. But like all great dramas, this one had a star at the heart of its plot. That and more in this edition of 9 Things 9. I have lost […]

Other

62 h. ago NHL's leading goal scorer Leon Draisaitl coming back in for Oilers

Something might as well start going right for the Edmonton Oilers. With league-leading goal scorer Leon Draisaitl returning to the lineup as early as Saturday’s Battle of Alberta against a diehard Calgary Flames squad battling for its playoff life, the Oilers will take any and all help they can get at this point in the […]

Other

64 h. ago Welcome news as Leon Draisaitl rejoins Edmonton Oilers for crucial Battle of Alberta

Game Day 73: Calgary at Edmonton When Edmonton Oilers recently lost superstar forwards Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid to injury in consecutive games, the immediate and obvious concern was, how on earth will the team compensate for its missing offence? After all, Draisaitl had scored 101 points and McDavid 90 before their departure from the line-up. The […]

Events

3 d. ago 'The best thing for the Oilers': NHL insider with surprising spin on injuries

This in from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, who recently spent a few days in Edmonton, his surprisingly positive spin on the Edmonton Oilers’ injury situation. On his 32 Thoughts podcast this Friday, Friedman said Leon Draisaitl might be back playing Saturday night, with McDavid a little longer. “You know, the one thing I […]

Other

8 d. ago 'Don't panic': Don Cherry with wise words on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl injuries

Hockey’s most venerable commentator Don Cherry sees the bright side of injuries to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. On his Grapevine podcast, he had two words of advice for fans of the Edmonton Oilers: “Don’t panic.” The two superstars will be able to rest, practicing with the team, but not playing. On the other hand, […]

Other

9 d. ago Even without McDavid and Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers smoke Kraken

Two injuries later and, just like that, a late game against the nondescript Seattle Kraken became a strangely compelling measuring stick. What would the Edmonton Oilers look like without Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? Would it be like watching the Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger and Keith Richards? Like watching an airplane trying to fly […]

Other

9 d. ago Missing McDavid, Draisaitl can go one of two ways for Edmonton Oilers

This can really go one of two ways: Either the Edmonton Oilers tank in the absence of both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, or they rally as a group and prove to themselves and the rest of the NHL they can hold their own without their two biggest offensive weapons. If the former turns out […]

Other

1 week ago 'A terrible sports day': hockey world reacts to medical tests for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl

This in from Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff, news that both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers will go in today for medical testing related to their on-ice injuries. The Daily Face-off’s Frank Seravalli Sounds like Oilers have imaging scheduled today for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to better understand severity […]

Sport

1 week ago Edmonton Oilers battle back to earn OT point but lose Connor McDavid: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

The Oilers lost both the game Connor McDavid in Thursdays game against the Winnipeg Jets. The Edmonton Captain suffered an injury late in the second period (which was not penalized) and did not return. The Oilers were already playing without Leon Draisaitl (precautionary, day-to-day) for only the sixth time in seven years The Oilers bared […]

Sport

1 week ago Edmonton Oilers lose game, and McDavid, as roof falls in against Jets

A heavyweight showdown between the two best teams in Western Canada didn’t disappoint. At least not until the roof fell in. Then it bypassed disappointment altogether and went straight to fear and loathing when the Edmonton Oilers, already without Leon Draisaitl, lost Connor McDavid. Then, as if this sundae of pain needed a cherry on […]

Transport

2 w. ago Leon Draisaitl's consistency a model for struggling Edmonton Oilers

'It seems like he's got an extra step. He's been great. I think his consistency's been there, he's been great every night'

Other

2 w. ago Letters, March 16: Will the real Connor McDavid please stand up?

Are you concerned by measles outbreaks? VOTE IN OUR DAILY ONLINE POLL! SWITCHED IDENTITIES In terms of performance on the Edmonton Oilers, is Leon Draisaitl looking more like Connor McDavid than Connor McDavid? Asking for a friend … CHRIS ROBERTSON (Oilers fans are lucky they have a true superstar duo.) FALSE SAVINGS Edmonton city council […]

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2 w. ago All of these things are adding up to an MVP season for the Oilers' Leon Draisaitl: 9 Things

The regular season is not over yet. But if it were, Leon Draisaitl should lead the NHL’s MVP voting. There are many reasons why I believe that. But number one is that he leads the league in the very hardest thing there is to do in hockey. And he does not lead by just a […]

Other

2 w. ago Honestly, where would the Edmonton Oilers be without Leon Draisaitl?

In golf, they don’t ask how, just how many. It’s kind of the same for slumping teams that finally end a losing streak. They don’t ask, ‘Who did you beat?’ So, it matters not that the Edmonton Oilers edged an opponent that had just four wins in its previous 11 games. Not when the Oilers […]

Other

2 w. ago Player grades: Leon Draisaitl shows his MVP stuff as Edmonton Oilers beat New York Islanders

Leon Draisaitl showed off his MVP from, scoring both Edmonton Oilers goals in a gritty 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. Draisaitl’s OT goal came on a great pass from goalie Calvin Pickard. A fired up Leon Draisaitl with high praise for goalie Calvin Pickard’s pass that kicked off the OT goal rush in […]

Other

3 w. ago Player grades: Sloppy Edmonton Oilers fall in regulation to last place Sabres

Oilers 2, Sabres 3 The most accurate word to describe the Edmonton Oilers performance in Buffalo on Monday night is “sloppy”. Sloppy puck management. Sloppy defensive coverage. Sloppy rebound control. Sloppy finishing. In the end, too much self-inflicted slop for the Oilers to overcome, even against the last place club in the Eastern Conference. The […]

Other

3 w. ago Trent Frederic and Max Jones pumped to be Edmonton Oilers' trade adds

Here’s what we know about the engaging Trent Frederic. He likes to hit, likes to fight (ask Corey Perry), likes being in the same Edmonton Oilers’ locker room as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and he knows his history. “Guess you’re not getting your No. 11 (from Boston Bruins)?” he was asked. “No, there’s this […]

Economics

3 w. ago Player grades: Ducks fly in for a visit, but it's the Oilers who lay an egg

Ducks 6, Oilers 2 Edmonton Oilers played their first home game in 25 days on Tuesday with the hopes of turning the page on what had been a most unsatisfying road trip. Trouble is, home ice hasn’t exactly been the “friendly confines” of late either. It wasn’t on Tuesday either, not for the home town […]

Transport