Hockey Night Panel Bizarrely Criticizes Leon Draisaitl For Poor Body Language After a Big Hit

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Liam McCormick
November 27, 2024 (2:35 PM)

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Late in the Oilers last game against the New York Rangers, Leon Draisaitl took a big hit from Artemi Panarin, and the Edmonton forward is taking some criticism for his reaction to it.

Draisaitl was picking up a puck along the boards and trying to dump the puck in the zone, when he was caught with a hip check from Panarin. Draisaitl got up quickly while fixing his equipment, took Panarin's number, and got back into the play.

Kevin Bieksa and Luke Gazdic discussed Draisaitl's reaction to the hit on the Hockey Night broadcast, and for some reason, the former Oiler wasn't impressed with Draisaitl's body language after the hit.

»Leon, get up and get back in the play. It drives me nuts sometimes. I just didn't love the reaction. The body language speaks volumes, right? And it just didn't look right.»
- Luke Gazdic, Hockey Night in Canada

Draisaitl had a clear negative reaction to taking the hit from Panarin, but this situation in no way constitutes bad body language.

In no way did Draisaitl milk the time spent on the ice trying to draw a penalty call, he didn't sulk, he didn't take an immature retaliatory penalty.

He clearly just got up after getting spilled by an unexpected hit while fixing up his equipment, and looked a little frustrated at taking the contact - which is entirely fine.

Leon Draisaitl is an emotional player and a leader of the Edmonton Oilers. If he's getting up from a fight quickly, getting back into the play, and showing a little sign of frustration, it could actually be a moment for the team to rally around - and something to personally motivate Leon Draisaitl to score.

The Edmonton Journal discussed the panel's opinion on the hit, and Gazdic did walk back his comments a bit, saying that the Rangers agitating Draisaitl could provoke him to play even harder.

»To be honest, if I'm the Rangers, let him sleep. He's the best when he's engaged. When you're in his kitchen and getting him fired up and upset like that is when he plays his best hockey.»
- Luke Gazdic

Gazdic's opinion on this matter does come with some weight as a former teammate of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl - so he would know when Draisaitl is frustrated.

And at the end of the day, Draisaitl has always had a bit of a different personality than most other star players. As long as the German Gretzky is still scoring like he is at the moment, no one will bat an eye at his body language.