Oilers to keep Draisaitl on roster

Oct 28, 2014 - 8:50 PM Edmonton, AB (SportsNetwork.com) - The Edmonton Oilers revealed on Tuesday that center Leon Draisaitl, selected with the third overall pick in June's draft, will remain with the club and not be sent back to juniors.

"You shouldn't be surprised (at the decision). He's part of our hockey team and has earned his right to be in the lineup," said Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins. "He desperately wants to be a factor on the ice and is motivated to become a great player in this league."

The native of Germany, who turned 19 on Monday, was inked to a three-year, entry-level contract on August 12, and he has picked up a goal and two assists in nine games thus far.

Under current rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, a team can keep a prospect for a maximum of nine games before either returning him to his junior club or finding a permanent spot on the NHL roster while burning through the first year of an entry-level deal.

"I was obviously hoping to stick around a little longer," Draisaitl said. "My goal and my dream is to be here in the NHL, and for the most part I've done a pretty good job, but I have a lot of work ahead of me."

Edmonton, which is 4-4-1 thus far, takes on Nashville at home on Wednesday.