Leon Draisaitl makes his feelings known about struggling Edmonton Oilers starting goalie. (Image Source: Getty)

Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl made his feelings known about the struggling starting team goal this season. The Oilers boast one of the best forward lines in the league, capable of overwhelming opponents. However, they have also faced disappointing losses against weaker teams.

In the same games this season, it seemed like the Oilers were on the verge of winning, only to see it slip away in the final moments. A major factor contributing to these letdowns has been the inconsistency of goaltending.

Although starting goalie Stuart Skinner has displayed moments of brilliance, his overall performance has not been impressive enough to alleviate the team’s concerns. Following Thursday’s practice, Leon Draisaitl shared his thoughts on Stuart Skinner.

He said (2:30 onwards):

Certainly there’s been lots of games where we haven’t been at our best for him. And then, obviously, nobody looks good, especially on the stat side of things. I think, for him, it’s just about playing.

“He just needs to play and do what he does. He’s very capable of being a starting goalie, and we’ve seen it. (He) just (needs to) drop some of the baggage that comes with the pressure or the talk from the outside. He’s a good goalie, and he’s our guy.”

Draisaitl noted that there have been games where Skinner excelled for most of the game, only to face challenges in the final moments, often due to a lack of support from the team.

Despite that, Draisaitl expressed confidence that Skinner would ultimately be fine as he continues to improve his role between the pipes. Stuart Skinner boasts a 7-6-2 record with a 3.23 GAA and .892 SV%, including one shutout victory.

How Leon Draisaitl has fared for the Edmonton Oilers this season

Draisaitl has been in impressive form this season, leading the Oilers in scoring with 30 points through 16 goals and 14 assists in 22 games. At this current pace, the 29-year-old German is projected to finish with 112 points and if he achieves this, it will mark his fourth consecutive 100-point season with the club.

Leon Draisaitl, who signed an eight-year, $112 contract with the Oilers ahead of the 2024-25 season, will return to action against the Utah Hockey Club on Friday. The Oilers (11-9-2) currently sit fourth in the Pacific Division with 24 points after 22 games.