Leon Draisaitl is on the verge of rarefied territory as a Hart Trophy finalist.
The winner of the NHL award judged “Most worthy to his workforce” in 2020 can turn out to be the third Oiler with a number of Hart wins after Wayne Gretzky (eight) and teammate Connor McDavid (three).
Solely two different NHL groups have a minimum of three gamers who have been a number of recipients — the Boston Bruins (Invoice Cowley, Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr and Eddie Shore) and the Montreal Canadiens (Jean Beliveau, Man Lafleur and Howie Morenz).
Draisaitl, Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Tampa Bay right-winger Nikita Kucherov have been introduced Thursday because the Hart finalists for 2025.
“There’s an amazing quantity of nice gamers which have been a part of that and have received it up to now,” Draisaitl stated Thursday earlier than Edmonton’s Sport 6 towards the Los Angeles Kings. “Proud to be in that dialog with some fairly superb gamers.”
The 29-year-old from Cologne, Germany, led the NHL in objectives with 52 for his first Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy regardless of lacking 11 of Edmonton’s final dozen video games of the common season with damage.
“Perhaps would have been a pair extra, however you by no means know,” Draisaitl stated.
Draisaitl posted his fourth straight 100-point season and sixth total. He set a single-season NHL file with six additional time objectives, and in addition scored in OT in a 4-3 win in Sport 4 of the sequence towards L.A.
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He was tied with McDavid and L.A. opponent Adrian Kempe for the playoff factors lead at 10 heading into Sport 6.
“He’s just about irreplaceable, actually, and he’s a distinction maker each night time we’ve had him within the lineup,” Oilers defenceman Brett Kulak stated. “He at all times steps it up even one other stage within the playoffs.”
Members of the Skilled Hockey Writers Affiliation vote for the Hart Trophy on the conclusion of the common season. The highest three vote-getters are finalists.
Draisaitl tied with Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele for essentially the most game-winning objectives this season with 11 and led the NHL in scoring the primary purpose of the sport with 12.
He tied with McDavid at 1.49 factors per recreation behind chief Kucherov at 1.55.
Draisaitl posted the longest objectives streak at seven straight video games and factors streak at 18 video games.
“He had an unbelievable season,” Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard stated. “He’s as clutch as may be and you understand he’s enormous for our workforce.”
McDavid was the recipient in 2023, 2021 and 2017 and a finalist three different occasions.
“We’ve acquired two of the very best gamers on the earth,” Pickard stated. “It’s so good to be on their aspect moderately than enjoying towards them.”
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