The Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a troubling streak, marking their 11th loss of the season against last year's Eastern Conference champion, the Florida Panthers.
This downturn is a surprising development for a franchise that had high expectations, with many anticipating a potential Stanley Cup win, fueled by the impressive performances of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins reaching the 100-point milestone.
As the team struggles, questions arise about Draisaitl's future, especially since he will become a free agent after the next season. NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman speculates on "The Jeff Marek Show" that Draisaitl might be considering a change of scenery if the Oilers can't reverse their fortunes, hinting at the possibility of the premier German forward envisioning himself in a different jersey. The long-term implications could be on Draisaitl's mind as the Oilers navigate through this unexpected downturn.
"Sooner or later you start to look at the long-term picture, like uh oh, Draisaitl, what's he thinking right now? I don't believe you're there yet, but it's there, it's not too far into the horizon if this doesn't turn around."