Leon Draisaitl is easily the 2021 MVP for the Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers have built a star-powered team over the years. It is the top-end talent that leads this team to success, and that has been the case in the 2021-22 season thus far. As the team concludes the first half of the 2021-22 season I think it is important to look back and name an MVP on the first half of the year.

There really is only one name as the MVP of 2021. Leon Draisaitl narrowly beats out Connor McDavid in my book as MVP for the Oilers.

Draisaitl has 23 goals, 26 assists, and 49 points through 29 games on the season. Now McDavid also has 49 points, but what separates the two in my book is the fact that Draisaitl has six game-winning goals and is averaging more time on ice than McDavid.

The two are the top players in the entire league, but in my mind, it is Draisaitl that has been more surprising to start the season. Everyone expected McDavid to put up crazy point totals but Draisaitl also doing it was not really expected, at least not on the same level as McDavid. Here we are towards the end of the year and the two are tied in points.

While Draisaitl is the pick for MVP of the team in my book, Connor McDavid has had a heck of a year. Going back to last season he put up a record number of points over the 2020-21 season. Today I am only really talking about the 2021-22 season to name an MVP, but if we are talking about the entire year then McDavid is the MVP of the entire NHL.

Draisaitl and McDavid have been really impressive this season. Hopefully, as the team enters 2022 the pair continue to lead the way for this team. Edmonton is still chasing a playoff series win. After failing to win a game this past year in the playoffs getting out of the first round is imperative for this franchise, and it is up to McDavid and Draisaitl to get the team there.

After a strong start of the season, there is no telling what this coming year will bring for the Oilers, but it definitely is going to involve a lot of goals from Leon Draisaitl!