Leon Draisaitl is not having a good season, he's having a great season

[1989]

Sure, just gloss over his league leading 22 goals and being tied for second in points, while ignoring his overall resume.

He’s getting paid like the top 5 player he is.

That's exactly what's funny - the top 5 players who aren't named Draisaitl are being paid less.

I know sarcasm on the internet is hard to detect but...

 

[kugelbahn]

DrDrai is awesome, but he also has benefit of playing with McD, they share 26 points this season despite both being centers.
And nothing wrong with that, similar to Crosby/Malkin double headed monster in Pens haydays.

 

[Video Nasty]

That's exactly what's funny - the top 5 players who aren't named Draisaitl are being paid less.

I know sarcasm on the internet is hard to detect but...

What do his stats need to be to satisfy your personal ritual?

 

[McFlyingV]

Should be the hart favourite at this point of the season. First in goals. Second in points. Playing a great defensive game. I just don't see anyone who has out performed him at this point in the season. Kaprizov should also be in the conversation.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

Is 1.5 PPG at $14m (and the top all-time cap hit at time of signing) all it buys nowadays?

Like of course, he's a top forward in the League but he's not currently (and IIRC hasn't been) top in points this year yet, and he's not even top-10 in assists.

Inflation really is crazy.

He's top two in points and tops in goals what a monumentally stupid post.

What do his stats need to be to satisfy your personal ritual?

Apparently there are stars in the top five for production that make less than 8.5 this year.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Before last season, he had five consecutive seasons of finishing top four in both goals and points. He’s the only player since Gretzky to do that. Looks like he’s starting a new streak.



Sure, just gloss over his league leading 22 goals and being tied for second in points, while ignoring his overall resume.

He’s getting paid like the top 5 player he is.

hes still on his 8.5 contract. He doest make 14mil yet.

 

[Pip]

He’s been a beast defensively and has been playing with Podkolzin and Kapanen as his wingers for a stretch now and a snake bitten Arvidsson early in the season. Sure he gets PP and the shifts on the loaded line after pks and in critical situations but he’s doing a ton with not a lot of help at evens. Clear MVP for the Oil so far. It’s incredibly what he’s doing. You expect it come playoff time but in recent years in the regular season he hasn’t played to this level. It’s great to watch.

 

[tarheelhockey]

That's exactly what's funny - the top 5 players who aren't named Draisaitl are being paid less.

I know sarcasm on the internet is hard to detect but...

Who cares? OP didn’t say Draisaitl is leading the league in Points Per Dollar. OP said Draisaitl is having a great season, which he is.

 

[Frank the Tank]

Love how Draisaitl walked into the league leading Minnesota's barn and big-manned them all game, resulting in a blowout win by the Oilers. It was his signature game in what has been a great season so far.

 

[The Nuge]

That's exactly what's funny - the top 5 players who aren't named Draisaitl are being paid less.

I know sarcasm on the internet is hard to detect but...

You might want to look again because Draisaitl is actually the lowest paid of all the players in the top 5 in scoring. He’s also the lowest paid player among the top 5 in goals too

 

[ijuka]

That's exactly what's funny - the top 5 players who aren't named Draisaitl are being paid less.

I know sarcasm on the internet is hard to detect but...

Draisaitl - 8.5mil AAV
MacKinnon - 12.6mil AAV
Kaprizov - 9mil AAV
Kucherov - 9.5mil AAV
Rantanen - 9.25mil AAV

So, Draisaitl earns less money than all of them, not the other way around. You're as wrong as it's possible to be wrong.

 

[Gordy Elbows]

As an Oilers fan, it’s been great watching him build his game and dominance since he came into the league. This isnt some overnight success….each season has been a building block and the ceiling hasn’t been reached yet. Enjoy the ride.

 

[Connor McConnor]

This is the best I’ve ever seen Drai play in the regular season.

 

[McFlyingV]

Always have a good laugh when people bring up anything salary related with Drai and McDavid. Not only are these the top 2 performers in the regular season the past 5 years, but they blow every other player out of the water with their playoff performances. These guys deserve what they make. They show up all the time which isn't true for a lot of high paid players in this league.

 

[sportsdynasty]

The best player in the league! Leon Draisaitl!

 

[Fourier]

That's exactly what's funny - the top 5 players who aren't named Draisaitl are being paid less.

I know sarcasm on the internet is hard to detect but...

Draisaitl makes less than every other player in the top 5 scoring right now.

But lets look a where he stands vs the league:

This year as of now:

4th in points 1st in goals

Since the beginning of 2023-24:

5th in points 7th in goals

Since the beginning of 2022-23

4th in point 4th in goals

Since the beginning of 2021-22

3rd in points 2nd in goals

Since the beginning of 2020-21

2nd in goals 2nd in points.

Lets go back to the season he started his deal 2017-2018:

2nd in goals 2nd in points

Now add in playoffs:

Over the last three years:

1st in goals 2nd in points

(And he had significant injuries in two of those three years).

The league is on the edge of a potentially huge upward movement in the cap and salaries will follow. Draisaitl signed an 8 year deal starting next year. Aside from an off year last year in the regular season he has been as consistent a producer as any player not named McDavid. Based on this context make your case as to why his next deal is not deserved.