Leon Draisaitl and Team Germany entered the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina with significant expectations, starting strong with a notable victory against Denmark. Despite two losses in the group stage, including one to Team USA, Germany advanced to the knockout rounds thanks to a crucial 5-1 win over France in the qualification game, fueled by Draisaitl’s impressive offensive performance.
However, Germany’s pursuit of Olympic success ended sooner than hoped when they faced Slovakia in the quarterfinals, suffering a 6-2 defeat that dashed their chances of progressing further in the tournament.
Personal Support from Celeste Desjardins Following Germany’s Defeat
After the quarterfinal loss, attention turned to a supportive message shared by Leon Draisaitl’s wife, Celeste Desjardins. On her Instagram story, she posted, “Proud of you, baby!”, expressing encouragement despite the team’s disappointing exit from the competition.
Draisaitl’s Leadership and Performance Through the Tournament
The day before their quarterfinal exit, Germany had displayed strong form with a decisive win over France, where Draisaitl contributed a goal and two assists in over 24 minutes on the ice. Reflecting on that victory, he remarked,
“Definitely a step in the right direction today… We’ve got a big task ahead of us tomorrow.”
The next match against Slovakia was a difficult challenge, as the Slovak team quickly established a commanding lead. Although Draisaitl assisted on Lukas Reichel’s goal, the German team was unable to recover, and the loss marked another Olympic quarterfinal defeat for Germany, their second in NHL-influenced tournaments since 2002.
Finishing as Germany’s top scorer in the event, Draisaitl tallied seven points, including two goals and five assists, setting a new benchmark for his nation in Olympic competition featuring NHL players. Throughout the tournament, he carried a heavy workload as captain, guiding a team that balanced veteran presence with emerging young talent.
Looking Ahead for Draisaitl and the German Squad
While the early exit is disappointing, the experience gained at this Olympic event is valuable for both Draisaitl and Team Germany as they prepare for future international contests. Draisaitl is expected to take a period of rest before returning to professional play with the Edmonton Oilers later this month, aiming to regroup and build on the lessons from Milano Cortina.
Despite the setback, the victory over France highlighted Germany’s potential when playing cohesively and minimizing errors, offering cautious optimism for their development going forward in the world of international hockey.
