NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars - Source: Imagn — Former Oilers forward talked about lack of ice time playing with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid (image credit: IMAGN)

Ex-Oilers forward cites stars Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl's team roles as primary reason for exiting Edmonton

Modified Nov 28, 2024 12:27 GMT

Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid's team roles were key reasons Warren Foegele decided to leave the Edmonton Oilers, cited the now LA Kings forward in an interview with NHL.com's team correspondant. While he enjoyed his time with the team, playing behind two star players limited Foegele's opportunities. Joining the LA Kings in free agency gave him a chance for a bigger role on a competitive team.

In a recent column by Deborah Lew, Foegele explained his reason for signing with the Kings this offseason.

"But I also wanted a little bit more opportunity too." Foegele said on Friday, via NHL.com, "Obviously having (Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl), the two best players in the world, it's hard to get ice, right? So for me, I was like, I think I'm at that stage in my career where I can take on more and I wanted a bigger role."

Foegele praised the Oilers but felt it was the right time to look for a change. After three seasons in Edmonton, he signed with the Kings as a free agent.

Since joining the Kings, Foegele has taken full advantage of his new role. Through 20 games this season, he has recorded six goals and eleven points. If he keeps this pace, he could score 25 goals and set a career-high. His strong start shows he is capable of handling more responsibility on the ice.

Foegele was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2014. He played parts of four seasons with Carolina before being traded to Edmonton in 2021. With the Oilers, he gained playoff experience but often played in a supporting role.

Foegele has played 453 NHL games, scoring 86 goals and 88 assists for 174 points. It's solid if you look at its TOI, as he has averaged 13:18 minutes of ice time in his career.

Leon Draisaitl is all set for another great season

Leon Draisaitl is one of the NHL’s best players, excelling in scoring, passing and two-way play. This season, he leads the NHL with 16 goals and is a top contender for the Selke Trophy. Despite his excellent numbers, he has not won the Rocket Richard Trophy yet. He has scored 272 goals over the past six seasons, second only to Auston Matthews.

Draisaitl is also the only player in the past decade with three seasons of 50 goals and 50 assists. Known for his accurate shooting and sharp-angle one-timers, he has the best shooting percentage (20.3%) since 2018. His improved defensive play this season adds to his elite offense.