BLOG: Tippett talks McDavid & Draisaitl's passion

EDMONTON, AB - Phenomenal has become quite the buzzword for the Oilers this season.

Leon Draisaitl used it in his now-iconic post-game interview on the ice at Rogers Place following Edmonton's 3-2 victory over Winnipeg on Feb. 29. The NHL's leading scorer added some - ahem - spice in front of it as he praised Oilers fans for creating an electric atmosphere in the building that night with the team rallying from a 2-1 deficit to secure an important win.

Head Coach Dave Tippett went back to that word on Friday when he joined fellow veteran bench bosses Joel Quenneville of the Florida Panthers and Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders for a video conference, and was asked what it's like having Draisaitl and fellow superstar Connor McDavid on his squad.

"Their commitment to winning has been phenomenal," Tippett said of the NHL's top two scorers at the season pause. "Both have been outstanding. Phenomenal hockey players, but from a coaching standpoint, the ability to talk with them, relate with them, them wanting to do what's best for the team, that's one of the biggest things this year that I've taken out of Edmonton."

Draisaitl has scored 43 goals and 67 assists for a league-best 110 points in 71 games, and despite missing seven games this season, McDavid remains in second among the scoring leaders with 34 goals and 63 assists for 97 points.

In additional to their elite point-producing abilities, Coach Tippett said what impresses him the most from the dynamic duo is their level of investment in the team-first philosophy.

"Both Connor and Leon are great young players, unbelievable talents, but they both recognize that individual players don't win championships, teams win championships," Tippett said. "They've been really strong advocates of making sure we play a team structure.

"They know they each have a big role to play on our team, and I believe with players like that you have to allow them to be themselves and allow them to maximize the assets they have, which are obviously outstanding. But, that being said, they still have to buy into the team structure we're dealing with, because the team is trying to win. I'm really fortunate that both those guys are hungry to win. They know they have to do their part."

Tippett is in his 18th season of coaching in the NHL and 15th in the head position. Edmonton's .585 winning percentage in his first season with the club is his best mark since the 2011-12 campaign when he took the Phoenix Coyotes to the Western Conference Final.