EDMONTON – “It’s pretty much impossible to shut them down one-on-one.”
Two of the best players in today’s NHL play for the same team.
Edmonton Oilers fans are treated to the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl every night. Each of them attacks the opposition in their own, dangerous way.
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When The Hockey News spoke with Mark Messier last Friday, we discussed Draisaitl. Specifically, how impressive it has been to watch his evolution.
When he entered the league, he was already a formidable passer and playmaker. Now, he’s added goal-scorer to his arsenal, culminating in being awarded the 2025 Maurice Richard Trophy for scoring the most goals this season. Draisaitl scored 52 goals this year, finishing seven more than the next highest goal scorer, Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (45).
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“It’s amazing,” Messier raved. “I remember Sidney Crosby wanting to score more goals. So he went back in the summer and worked on his shot and came back.”
Draisaitl has done a similar thing. Anyone who has been watching the Oilers since he entered the league knows that Draisaitl wasn’t scoring powerplay goals from his spot on the goal line from day one.
The 2018-19 season was the first year that Draisaitl scored more than 30 goals. He was in his fourth full season, fifth overall, playing NHL games. He scored 50 that year.
Mark Messier Shows Love To Leon Draisaitl
It took time to develop those skills. Messier highlighted a few skills and attributes that make Draisaitl a formidable player.
“He’s got incredible size,” Messier said. “He’s an underrated skater, in my opinion.”
“And Leon not only has the reach,” Messier continues, “but now…you see him holding people off with one arm. They can't contain him in the corner. He's too strong coming off the boards.”
“And then, of course, when you double-team him, he's good enough to find the open player. And if you don't double-team him, then he shoots it and scores himself.”
Leon Draisaitl secures his first Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the NHL's goal-scoring leader this season! 🚨 #NHLAwards
— NHL (@NHL) April 18, 2025
He ends 2024-25 with 52 goals. pic.twitter.com/p3hzXU2c8W
This is one of the most significant ways in which the duo of McDavid and Draisaitl poses a real problem for the opposition during the playoffs.
“It's a real problem for matchups, for not only players, but for teams trying to shut both of them down,” Messier told The Hockey News. “Connor's got his own skill set…it's just amazing that he's (Draisaitl) scoring at the rate he's scoring and probably one of the most elite passers in the game.”
“Leon is a special talent for so many reasons.”
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