Leon Draisaitl has officially added another major milestone to his impressive NHL portfolio. As the 2024-25 regular season comes to a close, the Oilers forward has secured the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy awarded annually to the league’s top goal scorer.
With 52 goals in just 71 games, Draisaitl topped the entire league and it is the first time he’s claimed this particular honor. This season’s scoring race wasn’t really too tight. Draisaitl was the only player to break the 50-goal mark and Toronto Maple Leafs star William Nylander finished second with 45 goals.
Leon Draisaitl led the League with 52 goals (52-54—106 in 71 GP) in 2024-25 to earn his first Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.#NHLStats: https://t.co/uMrfDGaSyY pic.twitter.com/ECiXiSgsrn
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 18, 2025
The fact that Draisaitl managed this feat despite missing time due to injury is really impressive. And he kept delivering without captain Connor McDavid in the lineup for stretches of the season, which makes the achievement demand more appreciation.
In total, Draisaitl recorded 52 goals and 54 assists, to finish the season with a tally of 106 points. It was his fourth consecutive season with over 100 points and the fourth time in his career he has scored at least 50 goals. He also ends the regular season tied for third in league scoring.
In winning this Rocket Richard Trophy, Draisaitl has now officially become the first German player to earn the award since it was introduced in 1999.
Leon Draisaitl to meet the Kings for fourth consecutive playoff standoff
Draisaitl and the Oilers are now focused on yet another run for the Stanley Cup beginning next week. Edmonton is set to face the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs, with Game 1 scheduled for Monday, April 21 at Crypto.com Arena. The series will head back to Edmonton for Game 3 on April 25.
This marks the fourth consecutive postseason meeting between the Oilers and Kings. Edmonton has won all three previous series (in seven games in 2022, six games in 2023, and five games in 2024) but this year might be different as they begin the series on the road. So much for losing the home ice advantage.
Should the Oilers advance, they’ll face the winner of the series between the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild in Round 2.
With five Canadian teams in the playoff bracket, including the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets, the postseason promises to be–fun, for one. As for Oil Country, this postseason the spotlight will be on Leon Draisaitl, now a Rocket Richard winner, and deep down it really seems to be the ‘He is HIM’ year.
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