Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Winnipeg Jets were eliminated in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, leaving the Edmonton Oilers as the only remaining Canadian team in the postseason. That fact prompted Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl to take a jab at the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Edmonton Oilers have advanced to the Western Conference Final for the second consecutive year. Behind them are the other Canadian teams, all of which have been eliminated. In Canada, there’s nothing bigger than hockey, and that means Canadian teams face more pressure from fans and the media than their counterparts in the rest of the NHL.
Toronto Maple Leafs eliminated
In Toronto, the pressure on the Leafs has reached new heights in recent seasons. With their star-studded roster, the public expects them to go all the way, but every year they seem to fall short—most recently with a heartbreaking 6-1 loss to the Panthers. The Leafs’ inability to get past the second round has not gone unnoticed, especially by Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl.
Leon Draisaitl takes jab
Reporters asked Draisaitl about the pressure Canadian teams experience, particularly during playoff time, and he couldn’t resist taking a shot at the Maple Leafs, who seem to crumble under the pressure year after year.
“Of course, the pressure is higher here—from the media, fans. You know the expectations; it’s just the way it is. It’s hockey country—it starts with hockey and ends with hockey. I don’t know if teams feel that pressure… but we can handle it,” Draisaitl told reporters.
Game One between the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars will be played on Wednesday in Dallas. You can watch the video below.
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