Leon Draisaitl tells the NHL he'd like to go back to play in Germany

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Ryan Hall
September 27, 2024 (9:54 PM)

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During the latest episode of The Rink Podcast on NHL.com, Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl stated that he would like to return to Germany to play as an Oiler as he did in 2018.

During that year, the NHL had the Global Series where the Oilers took on the German club Kolner Haie for an exhibition game at Lanxess arena in Cologne. Draisaitl Spoke about how his home country has become a far better hockey country and that the league is recognizing the growth and putting on more events.

«Well, first of all, I would like to go back. I'll throw that out there to the NHL,» Draisaitl said with a laugh. «But, no, it's amazing. Germany has really come along, and we've really created some really high-end product and some really high-end players in the NHL. It's amazing for the league to recognize that and give Germany a great game and a great event.

«It's gonna be a really special night, especially for J-J [Peterka], of course, having played for the team there. I'm sure it'll be very exciting.»

Draisaitl also reminisced on who he looked up as he grew up to be hockey player which happens to be Marco Sturm who went on to have a very successful career in the NHL who ended up playing for six NHL organizations.

«[Sturm] was probably the guy I looked up to the most,» Draisaitl said. «Obviously, he was one of the best players that we've had who's come out of Germany. He was just such a good player and someone who you've always wanted to be like. I've been fortunate enough to have been coached by Sturmy and gotten to know him pretty well. He's just a fantastic human being on top of that.»

The past several months for dry cycle have been eventful between the lows of losing in Game 7 in the Stanley Cup finals to the Florida Panthers to receiving one of the highest paid contract extensions in Oilers history as he was awarded an 8-year deal which holds a cap hit of $14 million per season.

No matter the money, it's safe to say his desires are to win the Stanley Cup in Edmonton and to play for his home country as soon as possible which will likely be in 2026 when the NHL returns to the Olympics in Milan Italy.

Source: Oilersnation.com

Leon Draisaitl says he'd love to be able to play in Germany with the Oilers again