Almost two years ago, the Oilers front office deemed that Draisaitl needed more development. He headed back to Bakersfield, but earned a call-up after impressing there. It was all smooth sailing forward, and he finished with a great season.
That success carried over into 2016-17, where he earned his spot on the opening night roster. After that, he worked his way up to the top six, and eventually, the top line.
Overall Impact
Draisaitl proved to be a key player for Edmonton, but it did take some time for him to fully impact the team. After just two goals and six points in the month of October, Draisaitl’s totals rocketed over time.