Leon Draisaitl making strong case to win coveted trophy
Photo credit: The Hockey News
The Edmonton Oilers are currently the hottest team in the NHL, and superstar Leon Draisaitl has now entered the conversation to win the Hart Trophy for the second time in his career.
The Edmonton Oilers have erased their slow start to the NHL season, winning 8 of their 9 last games, upping their record to 18-10-2.
With that being said, Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl has been absolutely dominant the past few games, winning games for the team almost single handedly.
He leads a top-ten team with 45 points, tied with Kaprizov for fourth league-wide. He leads the league in goals with 22. His 33 even-strength points are tied for third in the league, erasing any concerns that he's just a powerplay merchant.
He's also doing this with less help than almost anyone else above him. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen get to play with each other, as do Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point. Draisaitl spends most of his time centering his own line, flanked by Vasily Podkolzin, Kasperi Kapanen, and Viktor Arvidsson, who have combined for 8 goals this season. All good players, but not exactly elite wingmen.
-Caleb Kerney
-Caleb Kerney
In the past 2 games, Leon Draisaitl has notched an astounding 7 points, leading the team in virtually every offensive statistical category.
Although he won MVP back in 2019, Leon Draisaitl is playing on a different level this season.
He carried the team when Connor McDavid was sideline with an ankle injury back in October, and has been finding different ways to contribute up and down the lineup.
As it stands, Leon Draisaitl had emerged as a prime candidate to take home the Hart, the Selke, and the Conn Smythe if the Oilers manage to go back to the Stanley Cup finals.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 15 | 191 ANSWERS Leon Draisaitl making strong case to win coveted trophy Do you think Leon Draisaitl could take home the Hart Trophy this season? | ||
| Yes | 175 | 91.6 % |
| No | 16 | 8.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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