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NHL Makes Major Leon Draisaitl Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Gallagher | Last updated May 1, 2025 12:42 PM ET

After dropping the first two games of their Stanley Cup playoff matchup against the Los Angeles Kings, the Edmonton Oilers have stormed back to take a 3-2 series lead.

The Oilers have outscored the Kings 13-8 in three straight wins, and forward Leon Draisaitl is a big reason for the team’s offensive surge.

The 29-year-old center notched two assists in Edmonton’s 7-4 Game 3 win, and he followed it up with a one-goal, four-point performance in a 4-3 win in Game 4 and an assist in a 3-1 win in Game 5.

Draisaitl is the league’s postseason leader in points (10), and he led the NHL in goals (52), and ranked second in power-play goals (16) and third in points (106) during the regular season.

Because of his dominating play prior to the playoffs, Draisaitl was named one of three finalists along with Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Tampa Bay Lighting forward Nikita Kucherov for the Hart Trophy (the NHL MVP award) on Thursday, as announced by the league on social media.

The finalists were chosen by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

“Follow your Hart. ❤️ #NHLAwards. Leon Draisaitl, Connor Hellebuyck, and Nikita Kucherov are finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded annually ‘to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.’ ” the NHL wrote on X.

Follow your Hart. ❤️ #NHLAwards

Leon Draisaitl, Connor Hellebuyck, and Nikita Kucherov are finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded annually "to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team." pic.twitter.com/udt1LXhSQP
— NHL (@NHL) May 1, 2025

Draisaitl, who won his first Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal scorer this year, previously won the Hart Trophy back in 2020. Between himself and teammate Connor McDavid, they’ve won the award four of the last seven seasons.

This season is the fourth time Draisaitl, who was the No. 3 overall pick in 2014, has hit the 50-goal mark. He previously did so in 2018 (50 goals, 105 points), 2021 (55 goals, 110 points), and 2022 (52 goals, 128 points).

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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