'Had to become a better player': Oilers star Leon Draisaitl reflects on journey to 1,000 points

As the Edmonton Oilers geared up to salute Leon Draisaitl Saturday night after joining Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier and Connor McDavid as their fifth 1,000th-point player in team history, Draisaitl knows he has come a very long way from that first NHL season 11 years ago when he had nine points.

There was a lot of blood, sweat and maybe some tears, also some honest self-reflection, something Draisaitl has always been good at.

“There were a lot of nights my first year when I came home and thought ‘I don’t know if I can play in this league.’ It’s so hard. The game is different from juniors, you’re not as strong, not as fast as you need to be,” said Draisaitl, now one of the best half dozen best players in the world.

He’s at 1,017 points as of Saturday in 834 Oilers games, after hitting 1,000 Dec. 17 in Pittsburgh against former Oiler Stu Skinner, an assist on a Zach Hyman goal.

But as a teenager he had doubts.

“You’re only 18 and you don’t know how your career’s going to go. But a lot of work that went into this. I just had to become a better player in every facet.  I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far,” said Draisaitl, to be honoured Saturday night in a pre-game ceremony prior to the tilt against the Los Angeles Kings.

Draisaitl’s first point came in Arizona, an assist on a goal by defenceman Mark Fayne, a shot on net with Fayne putting in the rebound Oct. 15, 2014.

What was he thinking back then?

“Certainly, not that I’d get 999 more,” said Draisaitl, whose first goal came nine days later against Carolina’s Anton Khudobin, on a feed from David Perron. His shot from the right face-off circle which would become his office later on — a slapper, then a rebound put back, the game-winner.

“Special moments, your first point, first goal, just because they’re both so new.”

Wayne Gretzky had 1,669 points as an Oiler, McDavid now has 1,159. Kurri had 1,043, Messier 1,034. Draisaitl should pass Kurri and Messier by season’s end.

Support of family and teammates

He’s had a lot of family and friends along for the 1,000-point ride since his first game in October 2014, after being Oilers third overall pick in the draft after a sterling career in Prince Albert. Now, he’s 30, and McDavid, Draisaitl and Nate MacKinnon are the three best centres on the planet.

“To see Connor get to 1,000 points, to know Nuge (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) is getting to 1,000 Oiler games (next Tuesday in Nashville on McDavid’s 29thbirthday), to see what Nursie (Darnell Nurse) has done since he’s been here. It’s special to be part of all of this. They’ve been here for it all,” he said.

McDavid was the first name called by the Oilers after they won the lottery in 2015. Nugent-Hopkins was the first overall pick in 2011, Nurse the Oilers first selection (ninth) in 2013.

“This seemed so far away when it first started but I’m grateful for the people in my life, for these players in here (dressing room), what the organization has given me, the opportunities and such,” said Draisaitl, whose wife Celeste would be joining him in the salute Saturday, along with Leon’s mum Sandra, dad Peter, sister Kim and Leon’s omi (grandma), who made the long trek from Europe.

“My omi is 84, if I’m not mistaken, but she’s moving well, she’s in great shape.”

Draisaitl has always been team-first. He is loath to talk about himself, much like McDavid and all the other greats. They know how good they are; they don’t have  to tell you. So, being singled out with a pre-game ceremony to acknowledge his joining the pantheon of stars who hit 1,000 points, goes against the grain.

“It’s hard, a lot harder than people think at times (being singled out),” he said.

“We’re so wired to shove everything to the side, every nice moment is, OK it’s great, but let’s move on. There’s more games (coming). Maybe there’s another milestone.”

“Personally you forget to lean into that (singular achievement) moment. But this is only going to happen once for me. I’m not going to have it happen again. Hopefully, I’ll get other ones (honours),” he said.

‘Such an elite player’

Nugent-Hopkins had 52 points in 62 games his first season. He scored in his first NHL game against Pittsburgh and had a hat-trick in game 3 against Vancouver. There were no apparent fits of self-doubt with him but nothing is linear with high-end draft picks.

Jumbo Joe Thornton only had seven points in Boston his first year, lest we forget.

But, the longest-serving Oiler Nugent-Hopkins definitely knew there was a player in there with Draisaitl, even if the points didn’t come and he was sent back to junior after 37 Oiler games his first season, ending up in Kelowna with buddy Josh Morrissey.

“I could tell the way Leon could control the game with his mind. He was a big guy even back then, the way he would hold people off and make those passes. Back then it was his passing, it was so elite,” said Nugent-Hopkins.

“When he first came in, his shot wasn’t close to what it is today. He worked and worked on that and now it’s elite. Now he’s scoring 50 goals every year. His skating wasn’t what it is today, either,” he said.

“But, I had a friend who watched him a decent amount in junior and they (Oilers) were pretty serious on him, how well he thought the game. I knew he was going to be a really good player, but to get to this level (1,000 points), you have to surprise a little bit. He’s such an elite player.”

Draisaitl is past elite. He is all-world on a lot of nights.

“This is special, taking it all in (today). To be proud of myself and the best thing is having my family here,” said the grateful Draisaitl.

Lessons from dad

Peter, 60, the general manager of Krefeld in Germany, who taught his son how to play the game, will be on the Dad’s trip to Chicago and Nashville next week. Leon loved what his dad did, first as a player who played in the 1988, 1992 and 1998 Olympics for Germany.

“Yeah, I was a rink rat. I was always around his teams, always wanted to be at the rink. Very grateful for the insight I got from my dad, the hockey knowledge he instilled in me. He’s a huge reason I am where I am today,” he said.

What knowledge?

“Just little things, maybe things other dads wouldn’t know because they never played the game. My dad was fortunate to play a long time and he taught me the mentality of the game, how it’s done properly. Things that matter,” he said.

“I’m very much wired the same way as my dad. I’m early to the rink. I like taking my times with things. I’m finicky around the dressing room and my gear,” he said.

Did Peter have anything to do with his son’s unique straight, paddle-like stick?

“Yes he did. We have the same pattern, same blade. We play the same way, too,” said Draisaitl.