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.

 

[daver]

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.

A high point share for Crosby/Malkin was the exception, not the norm. They notably were able to produce a lot more consistently apart from each other at ES which won them a Cup in '09 and got them to the SCF in '08.

 

[Fourier]

A high point share for Crosby/Malkin was the exception, not the norm. They notably were able to produce a lot more consistently apart from each other at ES which won them a Cup in '09 and got them to the SCF in '08.

Here is a comparison of how the teams did 5 vs 5 with the pairs.

Crosby and Malkin 2007-2008 and 2008-2009

Crosby and Malkin

TOI 710 GF/60 4.14 GF% 62.82

Crosby without Malkin

TOI 1149 GF/60 2.82 GF% 52.94

Malkin without Crosby

TOI 1683 GF/60 3.1 GF% 56.86


McDavid and Draisaitl since 2022-23 (including a down year last year for Leon)

McDavid and Draisaitl

TOI 1081 GF/60 4.55 GF% 62.60

McDavid without Draisaitl

TOI 1912 GF/60 3.48 GF% 54.4

Draisaitl without McDavid

TOI 1937 GF/60 2.92 GF% 52.81

Over these two periods the pairs played together roughly the same proportion of their minutes and the results separately and apart do not distinguish the two pairs.

Now what is true is that if you were to look at Pittsburgh nearer their second cup run with this pair they did not play all that much together or have much success when they did. From 2015-216 through 2017-2018 they played 58 5 vs 5 minutes together and the team scored 0 goals when they were on the ice.

Crosby without Malkin

TOI 3534 GF/60 2.92 GF% 55.31

Malkin without Cosby

TOI 2728 GF/60 3.08 GF% 54.25

In fact separately the pairs are very similar. The big advantage comes when they are together. But unlike Malkin and Crosby whose styles don't jive all that well, what makes McDavid and Draisaitl work so well is that Draisaitl can play a completely different style of game when paired with McDavid to complement him than he does when he plays alone. This is one of the unappreciated aspects of Draisaitl's game. He reinvented himself precisely to play with McDavid. On his own he is a pass first guy whose instinct is to slow the game down and control possession. With McDavid he becomes a shooter, playing an up tempo give and go game.

 

[daver]

Here is a comparison of how the teams did 5 vs 5 with the pairs.

Crosby and Malkin 2007-2008 and 2008-2009

Crosby and Malkin

TOI 710 GF/60 4.14 GF% 62.82

Crosby without Malkin

TOI 1149 GF/60 2.82 GF% 52.94

Malkin without Crosby

TOI 1683 GF/60 3.1 GF% 56.86


McDavid and Draisaitl since 2022-23 (including a down year last year for Leon)

McDavid and Draisaitl

TOI 1081 GF/60 4.55 GF% 62.60

McDavid without Draisaitl

TOI 1912 GF/60 3.48 GF% 54.4

Draisaitl without McDavid

TOI 1937 GF/60 2.92 GF% 52.81

Over these two periods the pairs played together roughly the same proportion of their minutes and the results separately and apart do not distinguish the two pairs.

Now what is true is that if you were to look at Pittsburgh nearer their second cup run with this pair they did not play all that much together or have much success when they did. From 2015-216 through 2017-2018 they played 58 5 vs 5 minutes together and the team scored 0 goals when they were on the ice.

Crosby without Malkin

TOI 3534 GF/60 2.92 GF% 55.31

Malkin without Cosby

TOI 2728 GF/60 3.08 GF% 54.25

In fact separately the pairs are very similar. The big advantage comes when they are together. But unlike Malkin and Crosby whose styles don't jive all that well, what makes McDavid and Draisaitl work so well is that Draisaitl can play a completely different style of game when paired with McDavid to complement him than he does when he plays alone. This is one of the unappreciated aspects of Draisaitl's game. He reinvented himself precisely to play with McDavid. On his own he is a pass first guy whose instinct is to slow the game down and control possession. With McDavid he becomes a shooter, playing an up tempo give and go game.

Not sure why you didn't include any seasons from 2009 to 2014 and include info about McDrai prior to 22/23 but regardless, the main point was about their playoff success (four SCFs) without spending hardly any time at ES and producing, and sometimes carrying 3rd line/4th line level linemates.

McDrai have been more of a duo than a two headed monster and there really isn't a huge similarity between them and Crosby/Malkin, or other great 2C combos like Sakic/Forsberg and Yzerman/Federov.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Cant produce without McDavid though

(I’m not serious, anyone who actually thinks that is a f***ing moron straight up)

I for the longest time have said on here that his point totals are inflated from McDavid which I don't think can be debunked. replace McDavid with Bozak and Drai will have lower totals but he's among the best players in the leagues. top 3-5

they did call him the German Gretzky for a reason

edit* I used Bozak cause he was what he was a 2nd/3rd C used as a 1C most his career. with my team atleast lol, I am aware that Bozak doesnt play anymore

 

[phrenssoa]

I for the longest time have said on here that his point totals are inflated from McDavid which I don't think can be debunked. replace McDavid with Bozak and Drai will have lower totals but he's among the best players in the leagues. top 3-5

they did call him the German Gretzky for a reason

edit* I used Bozak cause he was what he was a 2nd/3rd C used as a 1C most his career. with my team atleast lol, I am aware that Bozak doesnt play anymore

The McDavid factor is greatly exaggerated. Draisaitl has always played great in McDavid’s absence. Look no further than his Art Ross and Hart Trophy winning season as an example. As much as there are benefits to playing with McDavid (mostly on the PP), there are some drawbacks. For instance, Draisaitl usually doesn’t get to play with the best wingers on the team.

I am quite confident in saying that he would remain a top 3-5 scorer with or without McDavid.

In the past I have often criticized Draisaitl’s defensive play, but this year he has been awesome all over the ice, especially as of late. What a joy he is to watch.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

The McDavid factor is greatly exaggerated. Draisaitl has always played great in McDavid’s absence. Look no further than his Art Ross and Hart Trophy winning season as an example. As much as there are benefits to playing with McDavid (mostly on the PP), there are some drawbacks. For instance, Draisaitl usually doesn’t get to play with the best wingers on the team.

I am quite confident in saying that he would remain a top 3-5 scorer with or without McDavid.

In the past I have often criticized Draisaitl’s defensive play, but this year he has been awesome all over the ice, especially as of late. What a joy he is to watch.

oh thats not what Im saying, Drai is a top 5 player maybe even top 3. just I dont know how your points dont get inflated a little playing with the best player in the world even if its just on the PP> its just going to result in higher point totals. does Drai need him though? no for sure he doesnt

no player is perfect, even McDavid has areas he can work on. like faceoffs lol

 

[Fourier]

Not sure why you didn't include any seasons from 2009 to 2014 and include info about McDrai prior to 22/23 but regardless, the main point was about their playoff success (four SCFs) without spending hardly any time at ES and producing, and sometimes carrying 3rd line/4th line level linemates.

McDrai have been more of a duo than a two headed monster and there really isn't a huge similarity between them and Crosby/Malkin, or other great 2C combos like Sakic/Forsberg and Yzerman/Federov.

I didn't include those because you specifically referenced 2008 and 2009 cup finals suggesting that the reason that the Pens were successful is that Crosby and Malkin played little together and that the team was successful because they produced so well apart. In fact, the stats don't show that the pair out produced McDavid and Draisaitl apart or together.

In the 2007-2008 through 2008-2009 playoffs here are the numbers in terms of team production:

Crosby and Malkin together:

TOI 68 GF/60 5.28

Crosby without Malkin

TOI 585 GF/60 2.66

Malkin without Crosby

TOI 582 GF/60 2.92


For McDavid and Leon the last three years.

McDavid and Draisaitl

TOI 374 GF/60 6.1

McDavid without Draisaitl

TOI 545 GF/60 3.41

Draisaitl without McDavid

TOI 476 GF/60 2.65

It should also be noted that the numbers for Draisaitl and McDavid together are somewhat skewed by the injuries Draisaitl had in both 2023 and 2024 playoffs. This is especially true in 2023 where Leon had a significant high ankle sprain that made it difficult for him to play center on his own line.

The other thing that needs to be noted is that pp goals count. Malkin and Crosby played almost exclusively together on the pp and with the two on the ice the pens put up 9.6 GF/60. Similarly the Oilers duo also played mostly exclusively together and in their case the pp scoring rate was 12.53 GF/60.

Winning is a team accomplishment. If the team could win simply from two stars producing with or without one another, the Oilers would have won multiple cups.

 

[Killer Orcas]

He's doing what he does every year and the same people keep saying it's because of someone else. Let me be clear it's not and he's been this damn good for awhile now. He's been in the top 5 players and as high as 2 for over 5 years for me. Guys a stud.

 

[CanadienShark]

Maybe every time he signs a big contract, he's extra motivated and his game levels up.