Scoring his 50th Goal, Leon Draisaitl Makes Case as Most Complete Player in Hockey

After scoring his 50th goal of the year, from yet another impossible angle, Leon Draisaitl celebrated from his knees, arms raised high in the air. Draisaitl had just eclipsed a feat only accomplished by one other player currently in the NHL today.

Leon.
Draisaitl.

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2-time 50 goal scorer. 👏 pic.twitter.com/0RouFOvGDQ

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 4, 2022

Draisaitl Becomes Second Active Player to Record Two, 50-Goal, 100-Point Seasons

Draisaitl just became the 24th player in NHL history to record two separate seasons of at least 50 goals and 100 points. Something his teammate, Connor McDavid, who is oft regarded as the league’s top player, hasn’t even done once. 

The former third overall pick now joins an exclusive list that he shares with only one other active player in the league today. Alex Ovechkin.

You read that right. Not even Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin have managed this feat. In fact, only three players have accomplished this record in the last 20 years. Dany Heatley, Alex Ovechkin, and Leon Draisaitl.

For a player who has spent much of his young career overshadowed by McDavid, Draisaitl has emerged from the backseat and has perhaps even put McDavid under his own shadow now.

In the NHL you typically find two types of offensive players. You have either shooters or you have set-up men. But Draisaitl is BOTH. And he does both extremely well.

After last night’s 6-1 thumping of the Anaheim Ducks, teammate Mike Smith was asked, Is Draisaitl a better passer or scorer?

“I don’t know if you can really… I don’t know,” Smith started, trying to find the answer.

“I’ve never seen a player pass the puck like he does. His vision on the ice is incredible, and he can pass it both on his forehand and backhand. But he’s got an incredible shot too.”

“That goal he scored tonight, there aren’t too many guys who can score from that angle and on an NHL goaltender.”

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The German phenom has finished in the top three of NHL scoring each of the last three seasons. That includes pacing the league back in the 2019-20 season, en route to his first Art Ross. 

And as said before, he is not one-dimensional, he is a complete player. Draisaitl accumulates his points in all types of situations. He’s a proficient scorer at five-on-five, he can be the trigger man or quarterback on the Oilers’ lethal power play and has clutch ability in overtime. 

To further emphasize that clutchness, Draisaitl has recorded 28 game-winning goals in the last three seasons. That’s more than the next highest, Auston Matthews (24) and David Pastrnak (22). 

He also boasts 31 game-winning assists in that same time. More than teammate McDavid (30) and one shy of the assist-factory, Artemi Panarin (32).

On top of all this, Draisaitl also works the penalty kill. Making him one of only two (Chris Kreider) 40 plus goal scorers in the league to do so.

Draisaitl adds to his utility-man status by also being a multi-positional player. He anchors the Oilers’ second line as a centreman with strong face-off numbers. And is relied upon to play on the wing when his coaches want to stack the top line with himself and McDavid. 

The burly German also utilizes his frame to aid in the cycle and protect the puck. Creating plays in small spaces along the boards is a high-end skill and he makes it look easy.

And although Draisaitl may not have the title of “best” in any specific category, his numbers across the board consistently rank him among the best. 

Draisaitl Should be in Conversation as Best Player in the League

Leon Draisaitl currently sits four points back of McDavid for the league lead in scoring. It remains to be seen whether he can leapfrog him for the second Art Ross trophy of his career, or whether he can pass Matthews for his first Rocket Richard trophy.

What will be more interesting to keep an eye on, is whether he can claim a second Ted Lindsay award, despite not winning any scoring race. 

The Ted Lindsay Award is viewed to be the most prestigious of award wins because it is voted by the players. And what greater recognition than to have your peers proclaim you to be the best player in the league. 

With a few individual awards in his sights, Draisaitl claiming the Ted Lindsay award for the best player as voted by his peers will surely come as no surprise to any of us hockey fans.