Leon Draisaitl Wins Hart Memorial Trophy And Ted Lindsay Award

It might be time for Leon Draisaitl to invest in a cabinet. This way, he’s got plenty of room to show off all of his newly acquired hardware.

Tonight was a big night for Leon Draisaitl. Not only does he skate away with the Ted Lindsay award, he makes it a full evening by also picking up the Hart Trophy. It completes a wild season for Draisaitl, a year which also saw him rack up the Art Ross Trophy by netting 110 points in just 71 games (43-67-110).

To be voted best player among the members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association has got to be a good feeling. To be voted MVP among your peers is probably a little bit sweeter. Tonight, Leon got to experience both, and it happened after an exceptional season for him.

Oh, you’re going to hear from many people about how Leon Draisaitl wasn’t deserving of one, or both of the Lindsay or Hart trophies That’s fine, there’s an argument for Nathan MacKinnon or Artemi Panarin here.

It’s just, not tonight.

Connor Hellebuyck. That’s interesting. I also see three Canucks on this sheet, wonder what that’s all about.

For some time now, you’ve heard about how Leon Draisaitl needed to play alongside Connor McDavid in order to get the magic happening. And sure, it’s easy to put two of the league’s best players together to try and jumpstart a power play, or if the club needs a goal with a minute and a half to go. This year shredded the notion that Leon needed to play alongside Connor McDavid, as a trio of Leon, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kailer Yamamoto helped chop wood for a significant portion of the season. Add in Leon’s 5-on-4 numbers (16-28-44), and it’s easy to see why the Oilers were first in the league while on the power play. Leading the league in power play success is difficult, and the Oilers will have a tall task trying to replicate that success next season. With Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid on the club, it’s more likely than you might think.

Detractors to Leon’s success are quick to say that Leon Draisaitl needs to become a better two way player. That’s a fair critique, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that he lit up the scoreboard like a Christmas tree this year when given the opportunity. You can suggest that Leon may need a gentle ribbing about his game on defence, but I’ll be a tad forgiving if he’s averaging a point and a half every game. It’s how I see it, (and it’s how the majority of those who voted for the awards saw it) and I’m a very good judge, or so I’ve been told.

One trophy still eludes Leon Draisaitl (and the rest of the Edmonton Oilers). Maybe he’ll win that one next year. Until then, he’ll have to settle on being the league’s MVP and leading the league in scoring.

It’s not a bad gig, really.

Congrats to Leon Draisaitl, who becomes the second Oiler since Connor McDavid to win all three of the Hart, the Ted Lindsay and the Art Ross. The future is still bright.