Leon Draisaitl started a debate between hockey and soccer fans after his comments from a German podcast went viral on social media. During Johannes B. Kerner’s World Cup podcast Kerners 11, the Edmonton Oilers star said soccer players should stay on their feet more often instead of falling too easily. 

He said people can handle more physical contact than they think and suggested that soccer players fall too much compared to hockey players.

The comments gained attention because Draisaitl is one of the biggest stars in the NHL. He is a former league MVP and one of the most important players on the Oilers. 

He shared his opinion while discussing the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which made the hockey and soccer comparison even more interesting. Many hockey fans agreed with Leon Draisaitl and said his comments showed the tough culture of hockey. Bleed Oil Blue shared Draisaitl's comments on their X account. 

In hockey, players often take heavy hits and keep playing unless they suffer a serious injury. Others felt Draisaitl was only sharing his personal opinion and was not trying to criticize soccer. The comment quickly spread on X and received strong reactions from both hockey and soccer fans.

Fans push back, joke, and turn the criticism toward hockey

The reaction online was not the same for everyone. Some users quickly said that hockey players are also known for exaggerating contact.

One commenter wrote, “Pot meet kettle.”

They argued that Draisaitl was criticizing a habit that can also be seen in his own sport.

Another user said, “He should tell that to his own teammates and Connor McDiver,” making fun of Connor McDavid. 

The comment referred to rival fans’ long-running claims that some Oilers players sometimes exaggerate contact to win penalties.

Others reacted much more strongly. Some comments were harsh at Draisaitl, and said he “couldn’t play 30 years” ago, pointing to the tougher style of hockey in the past.

These comments were not really about soccer. They were aimed at questioning Draisaitl’s own toughness as a player.

One user mocked the debate, saying that hockey fans criticizing soccer players for diving was a very predictable opinion.

“In other news the sun is hot”, a fan commented. 

One of the fans said “no s***,” meaning Draisaitl’s opinion was obvious and already known among many hockey fans.

The reactions showed why Draisaitl’s comments became popular. Supporters agreed with him, while critics said players in all sports exaggerate contact. The debate became about toughness, fair play, and acceptable contact in sports.

What do you think? Do fans agree with Draisaitl’s comments, or do they think hockey players also exaggerate contact? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason