Oilers' Leon Draisaitl on recent slump: "I know I've been pretty s--- lately"

It’s been a rollercoaster first half for the Edmonton Oilers. Fans were once salivating at the teams’ incredible early success when they sat atop the Pacific Division with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and, of course, James Neal pumping out highlight-reel plays nightly.

But things have since dried up. The Oilers now sit fifth in their division, and their top players aren’t contributing at the same rate. Still, McDavid and Draisaitl are atop the NHL in points with 63 and 61 respectively entering the second half of the season.

Draisaitl started the year on a tear recording 16 points during an eight-game streak. In 13 games played in December, he’s recorded 13 points, which for most would be a great steady point-per-game pace to feel comfortable with.

However, in Edmonton’s past four games, Draisaitl has a -11 rating, and an overall -22 rating in the month where Edmonton has lost eight of the past 10 games.

The 24-year-old, who recorded 105 points last season in a breakout year, spoke to reporters Monday where he shared that he’s disappointed with his latest stretch of hockey.

"I can't speak for them, I can only talk for myself, and obviously I know I've been pretty shit lately. It happens, those stretches, they happen. Maybe it's a little too long for myself, but you know tomorrow's a new day."

Both Draisaitl and McDavid were named to the NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis from January 24-25, which will be McDavid’s fourth and Draisaitl’s second appearance.

The Oilers hit the ice on New Year’s Eve to face the New York Rangers before 2019 wraps up, and start their 2020 campaign with a five-game road trip over two weeks.

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