Report: Leon Draisaitl to play in Europe if he fails to make Oilers

Leon Draisaitl's junior hockey career appears to be over, but that doesn't mean his tenure with the Edmonton Oilers is certain to begin. 

TSN 1260's Dean Millard suggested Thursday that Edmonton will send the 18-year-old back to Europe - not to the Western Hockey League's Prince Albert Raiders - if he fails to make Dallas Eakins' opening-night roster.

Here are Millard's comments via Jonathan Willis of the Edmonton Journal:

"I’ll tell you what I've heard from a couple of people: that the Oilers have basically given Leon Draisaitl a roster spot. If for some reason Leon Draisaitl isn't good enough to play on the Oilers, I have been told by a couple of sources that he’s not going back to Prince Albert, that if for some reason he doesn't make the Oilers he’ll be going to Europe."

The 18-year-old German national scored 38 goals and 105 points in 64 games with Prince Albert last season, and could certainly benefit from the stiffer competition the European ranks would provide.