Leon Draisaitl is a German ice hockey forward, currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League.
Background
Draisaitl, nicknamed "The Professional," grew up playing hockey in Germany until he was selected second overall in the 2012 CHL Import Draft by the Prince Albert Raiders. Draisaitl is the son of former German national team player Peter Draisaitl, who represented Germany at World Championships, World Cup and at the 1988, 1992 and 1998 Olympic Winter Games and played 146 games for the country.
Career
After two seasons with the Raiders, he was selected third overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2014 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Before moving to North America to continue his playing career, Draisaitl spent the 2011-2012 season in the German Development League (DNL) with the Jungadler Mannheim U18 team, leading his team to capture the DNL Championship. He was recognized for his outstanding performance by being named the DNL Player of the Year.
Kelowna Rockets
Draisaitl was traded to the Kelowna Rockets during the 2015 World Junior Championships, and the trade was made official January 5.
Draisaitl would help the Rockets to the 2015 WHL Championship, where he would be named playoff Most Valuable Player, putting up 28 points in 19 games. Edmonton Oilers
Draisaitl was drafted third overall in the 2014 National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, making him the highest drafted German-trained player in National Hockey League history (Dany Heatley, who was selected second overall in 2000, was born in Germany but raised in Canada).
On August 12, 2014, the Oilers signed Draisaitl to a three-year entry level contract. After making the Oilers team out of training camp, Draisaitl made his National Hockey League debut on October 9, 2014 against the Calgary Flames.
He would score his first National Hockey League goal against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Anton Khudobin on October 24, 2014.
Draisaitl would appear in 37 games for the Oilers during the 2014-2015 season, recording two goals and four assists, before being sent back to the Prince Albert Raiders. The move was done in part to prevent Draisaitl"s contract from moving one year closer to free agency (he would have been counted if he was on the team"s roster after 40 games). The Raiders were expected to trade Draisaitl to the Kelowna Rockets, though it was not expected to happen until the conclusion of the 2015 World Junior Championships, which concluded on January 5.
Draisaitl represents Germany internationally.
He played in the World Junior Championships in 2013 and 2014. He served as the German team captain at the 2014 tournament.
He was ejected from a round-robin game against the American team after a hit from behind and was later assessed a one-game suspension. Draisaitl was named to the Germany men"s national ice hockey team for competition at the 2014 IIHF World Championship.