"I think we're very alike": Leon Draisaitl reveals which teammate he would most like to live with

By Mike Whitaker

Modified Sep 19, 2024 02:48 GMT

Leon Draisaitly and the Edmonton Oilers are preparing to begin training camp this week. They are hoping for a more positive outcome in the upcoming 2024-25 season as the sting of falling short in last season's Stanley Cup continues to linger.

While making an appearance on the 'NHL @TheRink' podcast with hosts Dan Rosen and Shawn P. Roarke during the NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas last week, Oilers assistant captain Leon Draisaitl was asked point blank which of his teammates he'd live with if he were forced to.

Timestamp: 25:42

"God, and that's a that's a really hard question. I was not prepared, I'd never thought about that one," he said.

Draisaitl then chose Connor McDavid as the teammate that he'd most like to live with, citing their similarities as the factor that would make being under the same roof an easy thing.

"I maybe, maybe Connor, because I think we're very alike and very similar in certain things," he said. "And I think we always, you know, we enjoy talking about hockey. We love the game. We love getting better. We love watching, we love sports in general, together. And I think he would be a pretty easy guy to live with."

Draisaitl was then asked if he believes that he and McDavid would be friends if they weren't teammates on the Oilers, something that responded in the affirmative.

"Yeah, it's a possibility," he said. "A lot of times, you become really close with teammates or people you play with and you spend a lot of time with. Friendships take time to develop, but he's a character I'd gravitate toward."

Leon Draisaitl agreed to a massive contract extension this offseason

Leon Draisaitl's future with the Oilers was decided earlier in the offseason, as he agreed to an eight-year, $114 million contract extension that carries an AAV of $14 million.

He explained on @TheRink podcast that he takes great pride in representing the Oilers, and was happy to sign the extension that keeps him a member of the team for the long haul.

Timestamp: 14:46

"When you get drafted somewhere you create a type of love for that team and your original thought is that they wanted me and I want to pay it back to that team, and I want to be with this team forever," Draisaitl said.

"That's always the initial thought of every player. For me it's just the passion that the city brings toward hockey, toward us. The people just admire us and they just love us so, so much and they support us. I'm very happy and I take great pride in wearing the Oilers jersey and playing for our city."

Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers open up training camp tomorrow, and their first exhibition contest will take place on September 22 against the visiting Winnipeg Jets.