Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and the Olympic Stage: A Tale of Two Superstars Chasing Gold
Connor McDavid is in Milan with one goal in mind-bringing Olympic gold back to Canada. And across the ice, his Edmonton Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl is chasing the same dream for Germany.
These two don’t just headline the NHL; they’re now leading their nations on hockey’s biggest international stage. And if the early games are any indication, both are more than ready for the moment.
Draisaitl’s Impact: A One-Man Engine for Germany
Draisaitl has picked up right where he left off in the NHL. Through two games, he’s tallied a goal and two assists, a pace that mirrors his regular-season production in Edmonton.
But it’s not just the points-it's the way he’s generating them. Whether he’s setting up teammates or finishing plays himself, Draisaitl has been Germany’s offensive catalyst.
He’s skating on Germany’s top line alongside other NHL-caliber talent, so the drop-off from playing with McDavid isn’t as steep as it could be. Still, what stands out is how much he’s driving play at even strength.
Two of his three points have come five-on-five, and he’s sitting at a +2 rating. That’s not just stat-padding against weaker teams-it’s a sign that when Draisaitl is on the ice, Germany is dictating the pace.
Yes, the competition so far has included Denmark and Latvia-teams not expected to contend for medals-but that doesn’t mean Draisaitl’s job has been easy. He’s drawing top defenders shift after shift, and still producing. That’s elite-level play, pure and simple.
The Depth Dilemma: Germany’s Uphill Climb
Here’s where reality sets in: Germany’s roster doesn’t have the same depth as the top-tier nations. Moritz Seider is a workhorse on the blue line, logging heavy minutes every night, but he can’t be out there for all 60. And when Draisaitl heads to the bench, the offensive drop-off is significant.
Guys like Dominik Kahun and Tobias Rieder are familiar names to Oilers fans, but they’re not carrying the same scoring punch. There’s a reason Draisaitl is logging big minutes-Germany needs him on the ice to generate anything offensively. Without him, the attack sputters.
It’s a stark reminder of how much depth matters in tournament play. The top lines can only carry you so far. And unless Germany finds secondary scoring in a hurry, their path to a medal is going to be a steep one.
Goaltending: The Wild Card for Germany and Edmonton Alike
Germany’s got Philipp Grubauer between the pipes-a Stanley Cup winner and former Vezina finalist. But that version of Grubauer has been hard to find lately. His numbers with the Seattle Kraken have dipped below .900 for a while now, and that form has followed him to the international stage.
In the loss to Latvia, Germany needed just one or two more timely saves. They didn’t get them. And in a short tournament, that’s the kind of thing that can derail a medal run before it even gets started.
Sound familiar, Oilers fans? It should.
Back in Edmonton, goaltending has been a question mark too. Stuart Skinner showed flashes but lacked consistency, especially when the lights were brightest in the playoffs.
Tristan Jarry, when healthy, hasn’t exactly looked like a long-term solution either.
If the Oilers want to make another deep run this spring, the front office needs to take a long, hard look at the crease. Because whether it’s Olympic gold or a Stanley Cup, you’re not winning without saves.
Savoring the Moment: Two Superstars, One Franchise, One Dream
Let’s take a second to appreciate what we’re watching. Two generational talents, drafted and developed by the same organization, now leading their countries on the Olympic stage while still chasing a Stanley Cup together back home.
The way McDavid and Draisaitl elevate their games-especially in high-pressure moments-is something few fanbases get to witness. When they’re on the ice in overtime, you can feel the arena hold its breath.
When the Oilers go on the powerplay, fans are already halfway out of their seats. These aren’t just great players-they’re appointment viewing.
And now, for a few weeks in Milan, we get to cheer for them in different sweaters, on different teams, but with the same mission: to win. If all goes well, maybe we’ll see them lifting Olympic gold before turning their focus back to the Cup chase in Edmonton.
And if that chase ends with McDavid handing the Stanley Cup to Draisaitl-two teammates, two leaders, two friends-it would be the kind of ending that doesn’t need a script. Just a celebration.