Leon Draisaitl & Co .: Germany on the way to hockey power?

• Leon Dreiszital is considered the world’s best ice hockey player.
• Other exceptional talents such as Tim Stutzley or Moritz Cider are the following.
• Will Germany Be the Next Big Ice Hockey Nation?

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Not in football, not in handball, not in basketball, not in boxing and not even in Formula 1, a German is currently considered the best in his field. In ice hockey, on the other hand, it does. His name: Leon Dracital.

The Cologne native plays in the North American Professional League NHL for the Edmonton Oilers and has been awarded awards later this season.

The 25-year-old was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award, the most valuable player of the season, and the 110 scorer points (goals and assists added together) he was the most attacking striker in the league.

Drisital is only the second German, after basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki, to be voted as the Most Valuable Player, MVP in the major North American professional leagues NHL, NBA (basketball), NFL (football) or MLB (baseball).

Nowitzki praised Draisaitl: a hard worker

Nowitzki honors him. The former basketball player said in an interview, “I met him at his charity football game and he is very down to earth and super-cool. He is a hardworking worker and has earned this feat.” “nhl.com”.

The playmaker is also gaining recognition in this country and has been named Germany’s Sportsman of the Year 2020. He won the award in front of him following in the footsteps of Sebastian Vettel, Michael Schumacher and Henry Maske.

In the current season, Drysettle is one of the three best scorers in the NHL’s 36 goals to date (as of March 8). The German not only wants to win individual awards, he also wants to win the title with the team.

Dreissetal aims for Stanley Cup

“Of course we want to play for the Stanley Cup,” Drisetal said in a recent interview “nhl.com”. “I think we have found each other as a team over the last few weeks. I hope we can continue shooting.”

Drisital is not the only German to have scored a major hit in North America. Dominic Cahun plays with Dreissetel for the Oilers. Nico Sturm (Minnesota Wild) and Tobias Ryder (Buffalo Sabers) are also regular players on their teams, and Philippe Grubauer (Colorado Avalanche) is even one of the best goalkeepers in the NHL. In addition, along with Thomas Greiss, another German goalkeeper is a regular number one in the Detroit Red Wings.

Many young Germans are moving in their own way: 19-year-old Moritz Seider has been loaned to Sweden meanwhile, but at the latest should play an important role in the Detroit Red Wings.

The same applies to 18-year-old Lucas Reichel and 19-year-old John-Jason Peterka, who were selected by the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabers in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Tim Stutzl – Greatest Talent After Dresseltel

However, the biggest German hope is Tim Stutzl from the Ottawa Senators. The 19-year-old was selected third in the 2020 NHL Draft – exactly like Dreissetel six years earlier.

Viresen’s talent is already one of the top performers in his team and in the month of February he has been selected as a cheater (league newcomer). His record: 24 games, five goals, nine assists.

The comparison with Draisaitl does not bother him, on the contrary: “It is great for me when I am mentioned in a relationship with him and it inspires me even more. I want to get to this level at some point. “

This week he has three opportunities to measure himself against his idol. The Oilers and Senators meet on Tuesday nights, Wednesday nights and Friday nights.

The upbringing is also recognized in German ice hockey in Canada. “There are definitely good German players here,” Edmonton Oils coach Dave Tippett said.

“I’m not sure what they do in the league in Germany, but they bring high talented players there. Young Stutzl also seems to be a really good player who might one day become a big star. It all speaks for him. Is. German Ice Hockey. “

Kahun considers a successful era for the national team

Kahun sees it like this: “You pay attention and see what kind of players are coming. Whether it’s Stutzl or Peterka and Reichel, who both still play in Delhi. We have more players in the NHL now. ”

And further: “If we all got together for example at the World Cup or the Olympics, I think we would have a very good national team. This is also important. I hope more and more will follow suit, So it should be done. Look fine in the future. “

In early February 2018, German ice hockey created a sensation when the national team advanced to the Olympic finals and only failed extra time in 3: 4.

The 2021 World Cup, which will take place in Latvia’s capital Riga from 21 May to 6 June, will be the next task for the German national team. However, only German NHL players who miss the playoffs with their teams can participate.

In the Olympic Winter Games 2022, which will take place in Beijing, China from February 4 to 20, all NHL stars must be on ice. This may be the time when Germany finally establishes itself as a great ice hockey power.

Sources Used:

• nhl.com/de: Exclusive: Interview with Drycitel and Kahun
• nhl.com/de: Nowitzki is enthusiastic about ice hockey and dressel
• nhl.com/de: The future shines for German ice hockey
• nhl.com/de: Stutzle is the Monkey of the Month for February