For Leon Draisaitl, it’s a case of ‘you can’t play in the World Junior tournament and you can’t play here, either.’
The Edmonton Oilers are expected to make their 2014 first round draft selection a healthy scratch for the first time in his young career on Sunday versus the Dallas Stars.
It’s been a long time coming for the rookie, who has struggled in the NHL this season, but it’s a puzzling move given the timing.
The Oilers announced earlier this week that they would not be loaning the 19-year old to Team Germany for the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. Draisaitl is one of a handful of Oilers to appear in all 33 games this season, and he has just two goals and seven points to show for it.
The Oilers elected to keep Draisaitl in the NHL this season rather than send him back the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. The club was desperate for help down the middle, but Draisaitl, who’s averaged 12:43 of ice-time per night, has hardly been the panacea the Oilers require at the centre position.
The Oilers next game after Sunday’s meeting with Dallas comes on Tuesday versus the Arizona Coyotes in Edmonton.
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