Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl is quietly putting together one of the most remarkable seasons in
the NHL, yet his contributions often seem to fly under the radar. While Connor McDavid’s
brilliance naturally draws the spotlight, Draisaitl’s performance this season is impossible to
ignore for those paying close attention.
Through 44 games, Draisaitl has racked up 65 points, including a team-leading 31 goals and 34
assists. He’s scored seven power-play goals, helped set up 10 more, and delivered nine
game-winners! That’s clutch, especially when four of those came in overtime.
Meanwhile, Draisaitl is shooting at an elite 22.1% clip, the kind of efficiency that separates the
good from the great. And it’s not just about finding the back of the net—he’s a force in the
faceoff circle, winning 56.2% of his draws and has given the Oilers critical puck possession in
key situations more often than not.
Leon Draisaitl has the right cast surrounding himself
Perhaps the most obvious reason his impeccable outings are not receiving the kind of buzz one
would expect from a projected 128-point campaign is because the Oilers’ roster is headed by
the league’s premier superstar in Connor McDavid. McDavid is also having a great
season—even by McDavid standards—tallying 43 assists and 62 points in just 41 games. He
remains the heartbeat of the team and is now spending 21:51 per game on the ice.
One could argue that Draisaitl has quite the supporting cast behind him. On the blue line, Evan
Bouchard has been logging heavy minutes (23:29 per game), even adding 33 points, including
11 power-play assists. Mattias Ekholm has brought stability to the defense this season, with a
solid +15 rating and 63 blocked shots.
Up front, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman are dependable contributors, each with 26
points, while Darnell Nurse has brought his physical edge with 71 hits and steady defensive
play. Even the depth pieces, like Vasily Podkolzin and Brett Kulak, have chipped in important
minutes and timely plays.
Yes, this is Draisaitl’s year
Yet, despite all this firepower, it’s Draisaitl who anchors the Oilers and has been this whole
season. He’s tied for the league lead in goals and ranks second in total points, trailing only
Nathan MacKinnon. His ability to step in time and again in critical moments is a huge reason
why Edmonton sits second in the Pacific Division.
Draisaitl’s game is what one can say combines finesse and power. He can thread a pass
through traffic or bull his way to the net. He kills penalties when needed, takes on tough
matchups, and plays in all situations.
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The question is, why isn’t he getting the recognition he deserves? Maybe it’s the shadow cast by
McDavid, or maybe it’s the expectation that Draisaitl will always perform at an elite level. Either
way, Leon Draisaitl is, in fact, building a case for one of the best individual campaigns of his
career—and with what remains of the regular season, you shouldn’t miss that out