Report: Oilers' Draisaitl could be sent down to junior pending WHL trade
Leon Draisaitl could soon find himself in a winning environment.
The Edmonton Oilers center, laboring through his rookie season, wasn't afforded the opportunity to represent Germany at the World Junior Hockey Championship this month, but could be on the move nonetheless.
From Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal:
Speculation is flying that the Kelowna Rockets, who just dealt for Draisaitl's former Prince Albert Raiders teammate, defenceman Josh Morrissey, will try to acquire the centre from the Saskatchewan-based club as well.
The Rockets could give up, say, a third-round bantam draft and a prospect for rights to Draisaitl, whom the Oilers took with the third-overall pick in June's National Hockey League Entry Draft, and if the pro team assigned the 19-year-old to the Rockets, then send P.A. a first-round bantam pick, as well.
Matheson notes that Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton previously worked under Oilers executive Bob Nicholson in his time with Hockey Canada's junior program.
Kelowna leads the Western Hockey League with a 28-5-3 overall record.
Edmonton has already burned the first season of Draisaitl's entry-level contract.