Oilers owner Katz makes the unusual decision to join team for road trip

In case you missed it earlier this week, Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl and longtime Edmonton Journal reporter Jim Matheson got into a minor war of words during Draisaitl's media availability. After Draisaitl provided a somewhat stale answer to Matheson's long-winded question, Matheson paused and then asked Draisaitl, "Why are you so pissy, Leon?"

Frankly, it was a somewhat jarring moment that, to me, says just as much about Matheson's level of professionalism as it says about Draisaitl's level of frustration. 

Here's the entire exchange:

Matheson: “Lots of reasons for why the Oilers are playing the way they are in terms of winning and losing. What do you think is the number-one reason for the losses? Is there one thing, in your own mind, where you’re saying ‘We’ve got to get better at that?'”

Draisaitl: “Yeah, we have to get better at everything.”

Matheson: “Would you like to expand on that?”

Draisaitl: “No. You can do that. You know everything.”

Matheson: “Why are you so pissy, Leon?”

Draisaitl: “Hmm?”

Matheson: “Why are you so pissy?”

Draisaitl: “I’m not.”

Matheson: “Yeah, you are. Whenever I ask you a question.”

Draisaitl: “I gave you an answer.”

Matheson: “Not a very good one.”

Draisaitl: “Okay.”

Matheson: “I have one more for you, Leon. You’re showing your frustration on the ice, last game against Ottawa. Is that a good thing when you show it, so the other team knows you’re frustrated?”

Draisaitl: “Yeah, it’s a good thing. For sure.”

Matheson: “Good.”

Draisaitl: “Yeah.” [Gets up and walks away.]

So... as you might imagine tensions are running high in Oil Country. 

The high powered Oilers are absolutely cratering and their season hangs in the balance. The pressure is mounting with each and every loss and it feels like it's only a matter of time before something gives. And now, with reports that team owner Darryl Katz is going to join the team for their upcoming roadtrip, well... let's just say that the pressure isn't going away anytime soon.

From Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman:

...missing the playoffs is not an option and the frustration is boiling over. Scouting meetings are in California this week, so owner Daryl Katz can be heard first-hand.

-Elliotte Friedman

Needless to say that if I'm Dave Tippett I'm walking on eggshells this entire week.