Leon Draisaitl Should Stay with the Edmonton Oilers This Season

The Edmonton Oilers are off to yet another roaring start this season—not so much.

Much to the despair of the club's loyal fans, the team is 2-4-1 and must win the majority of its games in the next 30 days if there is to be even a glimmer of hope for meaningful games in January and beyond.

Yes, it's come to that. Hoping to see meaningful games after three months of play is already in jeopardy.

All is not lost. While the club matched its worst start in franchise history by going winless in its first five games, the tide—albeit against weaker Eastern Conference teams—has turned.

Make no mistake, the team as it exists cannot compete with the top six or seven teams in the West. The sights should be set lower than that, though, as that final playoff berth would be a tremendous stride for this once-storied franchise to take.

We all know what happened the last time this club snuck into the NHL's second season, way back in 2006.

With this in mind, and some encouraging indicators that the team is better than in the most recent past, highly skilled German centre Leon Draisaitl should remain an Edmonton Oiler in 2014-15.

While it's not the best argument, it is clear that the third overall pick in the 2014 draft is easily one of the four best centres in the Oilers' entire organization. The club has failed to add a centre from outside the organization. Options are limited from within.

In a perfect world, Swede Anton Lander would not suffer tremendous confidence issues at the NHL level, but he simply cannot translate his outstanding AHL play to the world's best league.

Bogdan Yakimov is going to be a regular NHL centre. He has some serious game. He will almost certainly develop into a top-nine forward and may even have enough offensive upside to be a second-line centre in a few seasons.

Jujhar Khaira is another "diamond in the rough" who is likely to be a solid bottom-six NHL pivot. No time soon, though.

A second factor is that Draisaitl is only getting better as the season wears on. Of course, it's only been a few weeks. However, his play is steadily improving. Unlike so many young, bright stars who shine so brightly in their first few games yet fade quickly, this is not happening with Draisaitl.

He looked very good against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, picking up another point, and has oscillated between being the team's second- or third-best centre in the past week.

He now has zero goals and two assists in seven career games.

A third factor is that he is not part of a large cohort. He isn't carrying the weight of the organization on his still-growing shoulders.

The Oilers' core is beginning to age and can actually support young Leon. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Justin Schultz and, heck, even Nail Yakupov continue to mature. These players can both mentor and shelter the skilled centre.

These players are now supported by proven NHL forwards Boyd Gordon, Teddy Purcell, David Perron and Benoit Pouliot.

Newcomers Mark Fayne and Nikita Nikitin have also played some strong NHL-level hockey in the past. Young Martin Marincin is going to be very good for the next decade as well.

Barring major injuries, this squad is going to be competitive if the entire defence corps can begin to round into form. According to Sporting Charts, its shot differential is now just minus-2.0 after seven games, which puts the team 20th in the NHL.

The fourth factor is that Draisaitl thinks the game like a veteran. After RNH, he likely has the best vision on the team. He's already an excellent power-play skater.

Centres Mark Arcobello and Gordon can continue to take on the toughest five-on-five minutes. Draisaitl can get important power-play minutes on the second unit along with more offensive-zone starts.

Draisaitl has played no small role in the better team shot differential with his improving play. Behind the Net indicates that his relative Corsi of plus-4.0 is in the middle of the pack among the club's centres.

At 6'1" and 210 pounds, he is also more than ready physically to play in the NHL.

He will turn 19 shortly and has the physical advantages to handle himself on the cycle, in front of the net and when he encounters the league's biggest and strongest defenders. His puck-possession skills will only improve.

Leon should stay. What say you?