Draisaitl showing versatility with Oilers

EDMONTON -- Leon Draisaitl has been centering his line for the Edmonton Oilers for the past four games, searching like most NHL players for more consistency.
It's a departure from last season, when the 22-year-old from Cologne, Germany, finished eighth in League scoring with 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) in 82 games playing mostly on the wing with Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid.

As the Oilers (11-14-2) struggle to find their game, Draisaitl has 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 23 games. He is not far off his pace of last season, but his impact has been hit or miss. He does not have a point on the power play.
"There have been some ups and downs and I've had times where I haven't been playing the way I want to play, how I'm expected to play. But I think that's normal and I think every player goes through something like that," Draisaitl said. "(Playing center), I try to keep it the same way the whole time. I'm trying to make everyone better, no matter who I'm playing with.
"When it's with [McDavid], obviously it's a little bit different of a game. But at the end of the day, I'm the same."
The ups and downs have included Edmonton's search for more offense. The Oilers were the NHL's lowest-scoring team on Nov. 6 with 30 goals in 13 games, but they have scored 48 goals in the past 14 games.
Among the attempted fixes, Oilers coach Todd McLellan has moved his forwards around frequently, arriving at Draisaitl with wings Ryan Strome and Drake Caggiula for the past four games.

After their first game as a line, when Draisaitl had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 26, McLellan said, "He skated tonight. … Leon skates, a lot of the time he just skates for Leon. Tonight, he skated for his teammates and created open ice and did some things that were beneficial to his linemates, using his size and creating space. So, that was nice to see and we need him to continue."
Many believed some criticism was contained in the remarks, but McLellan told the Edmonton Journal a day later he was aghast that anyone thought that.
"Like I said, it was the ultimate compliment," McLellan said. "I thought I was being really positive. We'd just had a great game. I was trying to reward him for skating and creating so much space.
"If what I said then was an issue, wouldn't somebody have asked me about it after the game in Boston? There were about 12 people at the interview, and not a single one took it that way. What I meant about Leon was this: when he skates and creates space, it is a good thing. But when he uses his teammates, it's a great thing."
The focus on Draisaitl has increased this season, given his outstanding play last season and having led Edmonton in scoring in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 13 games. The Oilers made it to the Western Conference Second Round, where they lost in seven games to the Anaheim Ducks.
There's even more focus after he signed an eight-year, $68 million contract (average annual value of $8.5 million) on Aug. 16.
Selfishness is not part of Draisaitl's makeup, center Mark Letestu said.
"He's very team-first, and I mean that in the sense that he's had a lot of success on the international stage and in playoffs," Letestu said. "He's been willing to move to the wing, to play center, to go on the second line, third line and not an excuse, not a gripe, not a complaint. He just goes about his business and plays with whoever he's playing with. Power play or you name it, you get the same Leon.
"That kind of consistency, the consistency of his personality, translates to consistency on the ice."

Letestu believes Draisaitl, the No. 3 pick of the 2014 NHL Draft, may actually not get enough credit for the excellence and versatility he gives the Oilers.
"I would say he's driven Connor's game some nights," Letestu said. "He's been the best player on this team at times. I don't think he takes a back seat to anybody, and seeing him play on a different line at the moment, kind of giving him the opportunity to stand on his own, it's interesting to see because he really takes command of it.
"In his first year, everybody chalked up his success to being paired with Taylor (Hall). Next year, he's an even better version with Connor. But he's his own man. He's proving he doesn't need either Taylor or Connor to be great. He can, in fact, make wingers great himself. And that's the sign of a good player."