Leon Draisaitl 3rd 110+ point season in 4 years...

[Trafalgar Sadge Law]

For the "McDavid inflates Draisaitl's stats" crowd. You guys are aware that pretty much every single insane scoring season in NHL history involved elite teammates right? They don't even play that much at even strength together since 2019, it's only power play, which Drai is very much a co-bus driver, not a passenger. Heck I would argue he has worse point production support than other stars like Matthews/Pastrnak b/c he was saddled with losers like Yamamoto/Foegele/Kahun/Chiasson on his wing for significant ice time this past decade. Whatever gap you think playing with McDavid for 30% of the time has over a Marner/Marchand, it's more than made up for by the gap between a Hyman or Bunting/Bergeron and a Kahun.

 

[bucks_oil]

This guy is a beast. Him and McDavid are the only active players with 3x110+ point seasons when there there is only one other player (ovie) who has more than one.

In fact Drai and McDavid combined (6) have the same amount of of 110+ point seasons as the rest of the active NHL players combined (6)

Drai is also 3rd all time in playoffs PPG. How can anyone argue in good faith that he isn't the second best player in the NHL year after year? I think him being the best passer and a top 3 goal scorer in the league makes up for defensive lapses....

Draisaitl is a stud horse. He'll play defense when he's good and ready

... like in the playoffs.

 

[alphahelix]

I mean ive heard that argument made more than once on this site, ie: players on bad teams score more because they don't have to share ice-time/the puck. Not saying it's a valid argument but it's not an uncommon one.

Its honestly an interesting question and hopefully one we'll never know the answer to. A majority of teams in the NHL would probably run 100% of their PP through Draisaitl and just try to set him up all day. He'd have all the prime minutes and play like 25 minutes a night (which he has even done in Edm for stretches). Whether that results in more or less points isnt certain imo. Obviously there are some scoring plays that are created out of thin air by McDavid that likely wouldnt result in points if Drai was playing with a lesser partner.

But Drai might look pretty damn good if everything was centered around him and he had say Adam Fox and Artemi Panarian trying to set him up, or Josi and Forsberg. Oilers have never had an true #1 OFD behind Drai which has been critical for most of the highest producing players most productive seasons in NHL history.

 

[Love]

He’s great but this thread is kinda funny considering a few weeks ago many Oilers fans on this site were complaining about his play this season despite his numbers

 

[Trafalgar Sadge Law]

Holy he is so overrated. A mix of Jagr and Thornton?! Lol

The guy makes a living off the PP playing with McDavid. Sure, powerplay is great and all, but far less predictive of ability than at even strength. At even strength is he no better than any other top player in the league, despite either playing wing with McDavid or getting easier matchups while McDavid does the heavy lifting.

Watch the guy actually and play and tell me he’s comparable to Jagr. Never seen a player do so little and still put up points.

The player whose 2nd in NHL since 2016 in even strength points is a power play merchant. And the player who plays less than 30% of his even strength shifts since 2019 with McDavid is getting lifted by McDavid. Gotcha!

 

[Kamus]

Insane right ? Go read the thread, there are FIVE Oiler fans who brought Matthews up before a Leaf fan responded to it, now you did here as well.

So prove them wrong and go away from this thread

 

[onetweasy]

I really don't want this comment to turn onto poopin on the Oilers. It's actually insane that one team has arguably the two best players and hockey and are only #3 in their division. Hockey takes so much going right to win. You need a full team effort.

Our goaltending and a league that hands out loser points explains that away.

Oilers are 5th in the league in regulation + overtime wins (ROW) with a goalie tandem that is below average.

With the correct moves this summer I will say the Oilers are a legit Cup contender for the next couple of years.

 

[Kamus]

Holy he is so overrated. A mix of Jagr and Thornton?! Lol

The guy makes a living off the PP playing with McDavid. Sure, powerplay is great and all, but far less predictive of ability than at even strength. At even strength is he no better than any other top player in the league, despite either playing wing with McDavid or getting easier matchups while McDavid does the heavy lifting.

Watch the guy actually and play and tell me he’s comparable to Jagr. Never seen a player do so little and still put up points.

I want to report this to the mods for stupidity. This must be an auto ban

 

[alphahelix]

He’s great but this thread is kinda funny considering a few weeks ago many Oilers fans on this site were complaining about his play this season despite his numbers

He seems to be rounding the corner on his rehab situation, skating much better lately. He is an extremely rare player than can still produce at elite levels while not at his best. But he looks like he is ramping up for the playoffs now. Could be an interesting finish to the season here.

 

[Macheteops]

His career high is pace for 127 points in shortened-Hart level season (and another shortened season with pace for +120 pts), so he doesn't need to improve his stats in regular season without McDavid to be 110pts-level player.

Brother no one cares about goals and points anymore. The true measurement for a forward is obviously blocks/60

 

[bucks_oil]

He's a good player obviously as it's not like everyone on the Oilers is getting 110+ points regularly.

However, I don't think he's a 110+ point player on any other team in the league.

On any team in the league that can give him an ~70 point winger.... read: every team in the league... he's a consistent 100 point guy year in, year out. (but in that case he's more 40+60 rather than 55+65)

 

[bucks_oil]

Deon is an absolute weapon. Him and McDavid look positively phenomenal out there.

Only watched a bit of them this season, but they were super deadly. Wouldn't be surprised if that squad goes on a run with Leon + Connor leading the league in playoff scoring.

I'll meet you on Canal Street buddy and buy you one at Hurricane O'Reilly's.

 

[bucks_oil]

That's kind of a crap stat, tbh. Points per 60 is a flawed metric. Not all 60 minutes are the same. PP or no PP someone like Draisaitl eats minutes in his own end, particularly when he's on a team like the oilers for the last 3 years where he was the only guy that was positive on faceoffs.

Particularly when he's not playing with McDavid, half the time it's been because the other team is pressing and the coach didn't trust anyone else to win the draw.

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Of course his scoring drops 33% per 60... he spends 33% less time starting in the offensive zone.

GREAT analysis....

Let's not beat up on @WhiskeyYerTheDevils too much, he did compare Drai to Thornton/Jagr... I see more Thornton/Kopitar, but still exceptional company.

... but I agree with your point. Fans around the league... actually mostly fans of eastern teams... don't appreciate how much of a defensive role Draisaitl is given on this team.

I think that's mostly because they don't actually watch full games... don't see that he's out there on every key draw... don't see that the reason he's occasionally lazy in on the back check is that he's incredibly overplayed and is gassed. This year we FINALLY have some defensive depth down the middle and he's going to benefit from that in the playoffs.

 

[REALTALK81]

Drai is an amazing player in his own right. Putting together multiple seasons like this is incredible! Regardless of which team I root for, I am a hockey fan first and this is great for the sport.

He's a good player obviously as it's not like everyone on the Oilers is getting 110+ points regularly.

However, I don't think he's a 110+ point player on any other team in the league.

Yikes.

 

[Canovin]

He's just a 30% part time center

 

[KlefDown]

He’s great but this thread is kinda funny considering a few weeks ago many Oilers fans on this site were complaining about his play this season despite his numbers

and we will continue doing so, but we still understand his greatness.

On the Coyotes third goal last night, Nurse/Ceci and Drai (the holy trinity of bleeding goals for Oilers) fell asleep and Keller had a open tap in back door but then Drai produces three worldly passes leading to two primary assists which won us the game

 

[StevenF1919]

Biggest powerplay merchant in NHL history.

 

[Mr Kot]

Biggest powerplay merchant in NHL history.

Ah there he is, now all the anti-drai crew has posted, we can put this thread to rest.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Biggest powerplay merchant in NHL history.

Lemieux. Every "Mario paced for WHAT at old age" thing is just him getting a crazy high number of points on the powerplay.

 

[TheOrangeDesk]

Biggest powerplay merchant in NHL history.

He had two even strength primary assists against your team last night

 

[WEMCHUD]

That is part of the magic that is Drai's game. He makes it look so effortless in the way he slows the game down and cycles the puck often with two defenders on him, to then thread perfect passes to teammates, then find quiet ice to slam home one timers.

Quietly playing at a 120 point pace for 5 seasons straight. Truly an all time talent.

Dat German efficiency

 

[Killer Orcas]

Guys a machine and produces in playoffs to boot. This guy is clearly the 2nd best player in league right now and he is not riding anyone's coat tails. His chemistry with McDavid is dynamite these guys are a joy to watch. Oh and I'm a Canucks fan if that's not already obvious no bias here.

 

[StevenF1919]

He had two even strength primary assists against your team last night

Clayton Keller has better 5v5 numbers this year than Draisaitl put congrats to him for putting up points against a team that's tanking I guess.

 

[joestevens29]

Guys a machine and produces in playoffs to boot. This guy is clearly the 2nd best player in league right now and he is not riding anyone's coat tails. His chemistry with McDavid is dynamite these guys are a joy to watch. Oh and I'm a Canucks fan if that's not already obvious no bias here.

Their chemistry at times makes you wonder if it's an all-star game where the other team doesn't play defense.

Just unreal to watch

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

That's kind of a crap stat, tbh. Points per 60 is a flawed metric. Not all 60 minutes are the same. PP or no PP someone like Draisaitl eats minutes in his own end, particularly when he's on a team like the oilers for the last 3 years where he was the only guy that was positive on faceoffs.

Particularly when he's not playing with McDavid, half the time it's been because the other team is pressing and the coach didn't trust anyone else to win the draw.

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Of course his scoring drops 33% per 60... he spends 33% less time starting in the offensive zone.

Zone starts have a minimal impact on production. The overwhelming majority of shifts start on the fly.