How the Oilers used Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid to assemble a competitive team.
Dallas: Before either Dylan Holloway or Darnell Nurse responded to a single question, everything about their proximity on an elevated dais during the Western Conference playoffs indicated a lot.
Together, they embody a great deal of what the Edmonton Oilers have done to develop their franchise players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
In today’s NHL, having domestic talent is crucial, and the Oilers have it. Nurse was chosen with the seventh overall pick in 2013—a year and a half ahead of Draisaitl and McDavid—demonstrating the length of time the Oilers have been attempting to develop through the draft. A more recent example of Edmonton sticking to that strategy while still attempting to win now is Holloway, who finished 14th in 2020.
“It’s cool to come into a team with such phenomenal players,” Holloway stated. “Connor, Darnell, and Leo. I wish I could pick their brains. Here, they essentially set the path. They’re the reason our squad is performing as well as it is currently.”
