Leon Draisaitl takes shot at Maple Leafs ahead of Western Conference Final opener

The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs are down to four teams with Game 1 of the Western conference final taking place later tonight between the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars. The Oilers are the only Canadian team left in the postseason, after the Toronto Maple Leafs were, once again ousted in Round 2. Despite being able to force a Game 7 in Toronto on Sunday, the Maple Leafs fell to the Florida Panthers, who took on the Carolina Hurricanes and won 5-2 in the first contest of the final in the East.

When Toronto was eliminated and the Oilers have continued to get focused on taking on the star, forward Leon Draisaitl could not help but take a small shot at the fallen Leafs. When asked about the pressure of playing for a Canadian (and perhaps being the only one left) Draisaitl commented on how he feels going into the series against Dallas by taking a shot at Toronto:

“I don’t know if teams feel that they get under pressure with that but we can handle it.”

Draisaitl, who is expected to be a huge factor in the Oilers’ quest for the Stanley Cup this time again, has been a great ally for captain Connor McDavid. The duo has shown how they can feed off one another and be consistent playoff performers, while the tandem of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner keep choking in the postseason.

Ahead of the Western conference Final, Draisaitl which equals both Matthews and Marner’s goal total in the playoffs, and he tied the latter in assists with more games to go.

It could be a question of handling the pressure, however, I’m not sure that explanation will do for Maple Leafs’ fans.

Draisaitl has proven he can handle the heat and clearly he was not afraid to call out the Maple Leafs with his hot take.