Leon Draisaitl is one of the best playoff performers in NHL history

[SillyRabbit]

What this man has been able to do in the playoffs is nothing short of legendary.

He's #2 all time in playoff points per game, trailing only Wayne Gretzky. (58 game sample size at the time of this posting). Yes, he's ahead of both Lemieux and McDavid.

His career regular season PPG is 1.18. His career playoff PPG is 1.67. This is the largest increase from regular season PPG to playoff PPG of any player in NHL history.

When you factor in that his baseline regular season play (643 points, 47 more than the #3 regular season scorer over the past five years), is already incredibly elite, it's insane that he's able to increase his play to an even higher level.

And let's not forget that he's been playing injured in two of the last three playoff runs.

2022: 2nd in playoff scoring (32 points, 1 behind McDavid) despite only playing 3 rounds.
2023: 1st in playoff goals (13) despite only playing 2 rounds.
2024: 1st in playoff scoring thus far.

He's never had a playoff series where he scored under a PPG, even when the Oilers got swept.

Draisaitl really doesn't get the respect he deserves. He's absolutely in contention for the #2 best player in the league, but often gets left out of people's top 5 completely.

Click to read more...

 

[Despote]

One of the best players of all time. Hopefully Oilers can win a Cup, the dynamic duo deserves it.

 

[Oscar The Grouch]

We should never see Auston Matthews ranked above him on a best player list again. Thanks.

 

[AnInjuredJasonZucker]

I know it wasn’t a question, but the answer is yes.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Will get serious consideration for the HHOF.

One of those guts who elevates his game under pressure. Not an easy thing to do.

 

[I am not exposed]

Will get serious consideration for the HHOF.

One of those guts who elevates his game under pressure. Not an easy thing to do.

Oh he will be getting in for sure.

 

[NVious]

NHL Playoffs All-Time Points per 60 Leaders

NHL players who hold the all-time record for the highest points per 60 in NHL playoffs. All-time playoff points per 60 leaders for NHL players.

www.quanthockey.com

Insane and I know people will cite playing with McDavid, but he is AHEAD of McDavid

 

[HockeyVirus]

He doesn't play a lick of defense. Imagine if the other stars around the league completely abandoned the 2nd half of the ice and cherry picked for 2 on 1's all game long what their production would look like. Now imagine they also had McDavid feeding them on the PP (in which they draw top of the league in PP opportunities). Then all he has to do is let the goalie and coach be the scapegoat.

He is obviously an incredible player. I enjoy watching him a lot, and especially love watching him on the PP and how he can score on the slimmest angles. But if you watch him it is obvious why the team has never won anything in the postseason..

 

[NVious]

We should never see Auston Matthews ranked above him on a best player list again. Thanks.

Angry Malkin-Season Auston-Playoff Drai=GOATed line

 

[nerblet]

He doesn't play a lick of defense. Imagine if the other stars around the league completely abandoned the 2nd half of the ice and cherry picked for 2 on 1's all game long what their production would look like. Now imagine they also had McDavid feeding them on the PP (in which they draw top of the league in PP opportunities). Then all he has to do is let the goalie and coach be the scapegoat.

He is obviously an incredible player. I enjoy watching him a lot, and especially love watching him on the PP and how he can score on the slimmest angles. But if you watch him it is obvious why the team has never won anything in the postseason..

Lol. Clearly you don't wartch him play

 

[tarheelhockey]

You’re citing numbers from when he’s 28 and in the middle of his prime, and comparing them to guys who played till they were 40.

At the same age, Lemieux’s playoff PPG was 1.85 to Draisaitl’s 1.67. To be clear, both are elite-of-the-élite.

 

[Avsfan1921]

He’s an absolute beast. No doubt.

 

[WATTAGE4451]

He doesn't play a lick of defense. Imagine if the other stars around the league completely abandoned the 2nd half of the ice and cherry picked for 2 on 1's all game long what their production would look like. Now imagine they also had McDavid feeding them on the PP (in which they draw top of the league in PP opportunities). Then all he has to do is let the goalie and coach be the scapegoat.

He is obviously an incredible player. I enjoy watching him a lot, and especially love watching him on the PP and how he can score on the slimmest angles. But if you watch him it is obvious why the team has never won anything in the postseason..

He plays good defense at times and has been an effective penalty killer before. He has some lapses though defensively but he isnt overall that bad defensively when he is fully healthy. Playing injured mames him look way worse than he is defensively cuz he gives up when its not in offensive zone cuz he cant keep fighting through the pain that long.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

We should never see Auston Matthews ranked above him on a best player list again. Thanks.

There was no reason to before this playoffs but we all saw what happened

 

[TheNumber4]

He doesn't play a lick of defense. Imagine if the other stars around the league completely abandoned the 2nd half of the ice and cherry picked for 2 on 1's all game long what their production would look like. Now imagine they also had McDavid feeding them on the PP (in which they draw top of the league in PP opportunities). Then all he has to do is let the goalie and coach be the scapegoat.

He is obviously an incredible player. I enjoy watching him a lot, and especially love watching him on the PP and how he can score on the slimmest angles. But if you watch him it is obvious why the team has never won anything in the postseason..

What a bad take. Obviously you don't watch him and are just saying things for Matthews sake. He's playing Selke level defense in these playoffs, anyone with eyeballs can see that.

 

[McShogun99]

NHL Playoffs All-Time Points per 60 Leaders

NHL players who hold the all-time record for the highest points per 60 in NHL playoffs. All-time playoff points per 60 leaders for NHL players.

www.quanthockey.com

Insane and I know people will cite playing with McDavid, but he is AHEAD of McDavid

Draisaitl has been better than Mcdavid in every playoff, even when Mcdavid has more points. Teams focus more on Mcdavid which opens things up for Draisaitl but he’s also just built for playoff hockey.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

He doesn't play a lick of defense. Imagine if the other stars around the league completely abandoned the 2nd half of the ice and cherry picked for 2 on 1's all game long what their production would look like. Now imagine they also had McDavid feeding them on the PP (in which they draw top of the league in PP opportunities). Then all he has to do is let the goalie and coach be the scapegoat.

He is obviously an incredible player. I enjoy watching him a lot, and especially love watching him on the PP and how he can score on the slimmest angles. But if you watch him it is obvious why the team has never won anything in the postseason..

Yeah imagine if he could play Selke-level defense like Matthews

Might even be able to score one goal in the playoffs and lose in the first round

 

[Eternal Leaf]

No doubt one of the best playoff performers in the business.

 

[Frosty415]

He doesn't play a lick of defense. Imagine if the other stars around the league completely abandoned the 2nd half of the ice and cherry picked for 2 on 1's all game long what their production would look like. Now imagine they also had McDavid feeding them on the PP (in which they draw top of the league in PP opportunities). Then all he has to do is let the goalie and coach be the scapegoat.

He is obviously an incredible player. I enjoy watching him a lot, and especially love watching him on the PP and how he can score on the slimmest angles. But if you watch him it is obvious why the team has never won anything in the postseason..

Aren't you a huge Matthews fanboy

Some of you don't like any McD or Drai praise

 

[swiftwin]

Kinda hard to call him one of the best playoff performers in NHL history when he's never won a game past the 2nd round.

 

[Eltuna]

Never seen the stat about his delta between regular reason and playoff ppg, that is very impressive. Even if you remove his first two regular season years before he really got going his regular season ppg only goes up to 1.30.

He’s had that Production in the playoffs despite multiple injuries as well

 

[Video Nasty]

You’re citing numbers from when he’s 28 and in the middle of his prime, and comparing them to guys who played till they were 40.

At the same age, Lemieux’s playoff PPG was 1.85 to Draisaitl’s 1.67. To be clear, both are elite-of-the-élite.

Strange how era adjustments are always brought up until they compare favorably for some players and against others.

 

[Tralfamadore]

One of the best Pacific Division playoff champions of all time.

 

[AnInjuredJasonZucker]

Kinda hard to call him one of the best playoff performers in NHL history when he's never won a game past the 2nd round.

I just perused the NHL record books, and it’s weird. I didn’t see any players listed in the win column. It was all teams.

Must be a mistake.

 

[swiftwin]

I just perused the NHL record books, and it’s weird. I didn’t see any players listed in the win column. It was all teams.

Must be a mistake.

You must not have looked very hard.