Draisaitl reflects on journey with Oilers core as Edmonton looks to capture Stanley Cup – Edmonton [Video]

Leon Draisaitl has experienced plenty of good moments with the Oilers.

The big centre selected No. 3 overall at the 2014 NHL draft owns a Hart Trophy as league MVP, has filled the net across his decade in the Alberta capital and enjoyed playoff success.

Draisaitl also remembers the bad times — disappointing finishes, missed opportunities, gut-wrenching losses.

Edmonton is back in the Stanley Cup final against the same opponent after losing to the Florida Panthers last spring. Attempting to ascend hockey’s summit a second straight year with a nucleus of teammates he’s grown up alongside is the only place he wants to be.

“They’re my best friends,” Draisaitl said in the lead-up to Wednesday’s Game 1.

The group enjoyed a breakthrough in 2022 when Edmonton made the Western Conference final for the first time since 2006.

The Oilers then secured a spot in last year’s title series, but a 3-0 hole was too deep to …