A Great Evening For Draisaitl And Oilers

Leon Draisaitl becomes the newest member of the NHL’s 1,000-point club. His Edmonton Oilers teammates didn’t hold back in their celebrations. He is the fifth player in franchise history to reach 1000 points. He is also the first German-born player to reach the milestone.

The German superstar reached the milestone moment with an assist on Zach Hyman’s power-play goal. He was a big part of the Oilers’ 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night. The Oilers’ bench cleared to celebrate the accomplishment. In an awkward turn of events, the celebration took place just feet away from Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner. The same Skinner who was just recently traded away from Edmonton. Draisaitl later registered his 1,001st point on the very next shift, assisting on a Connor McDavid goal.

Last season, it was McDavid who reached the 1,000-point mark. That occasion saw his teammates celebrate with some hilarious custom-made t-shirts and a big cake. As for Draisaitl, he might have to wait for his cake until the team returns to Edmonton, but the t-shirt tradition was alive in Pittsburgh.

Draisaitl Teammates Celebrate His Milestone

The shirts included an infamous photo of Draisaitl smoking a cigarette during his wedding celebration last summer. Accompanying the photo was the caption “Smoking his way to 1000 NHL points” with the smoke from the cigarette forming the Oilers logo. His native flag of Germany was the backdrop. The Oilers’ assistant equipment manager, Brad Harrison, designed the shirt.

All of Draisaitl’s teammates seemed to be having fun. Some of them even brought some props to accompany the shirts. Backup goalie Calvin Pickard was caught by the Oilers’ social media team with what looks like a prop cigarette in his mouth, as he was posing with Leon’s linemate Vasily Podkolzin. The whole locker room looked like they were having a blast.

Once the Oilers return home to Rogers Place, there will certainly be an on-ice ceremony to commemorate Draisaitl’s accomplishment. While the locker room was having a ton of fun with it, I expect a little more of a serious tone when the organization congratulates him.