Starting the season in the minors might have been the best thing for Leon Draisaitl, but it was a tough pill to swallow for him after making the Edmonton Oilers out of training camp the previous year. On merit, he probably deserved to be on the team, but GM Peter Chiarelli thought it would be best for his long-term development to get some more seasoning in the AHL.
Before sending him down to Bakersfield, Head Coach Todd McLellan told Draisaitl that when he gets recalled, he will be here for good. Though McLellan likely didn’t think it would be this soon.