McDavid and Draisaitl Keep Raising the Bar-But How Much More Can They Shoulder?
At this point, it feels like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are playing a different game than the rest of the NHL. Year after year, they redefine what dominance looks like-not just with highlight-reel goals or jaw-dropping assists, but with the kind of sustained excellence that’s become almost routine in Edmonton. And yet, somehow, they keep finding ways to level up.
Let’s talk numbers for a second-not to get lost in them, but to appreciate the scale of what we’re witnessing. Since the 2016-17 season, McDavid leads the entire NHL with 1,124 points.
Draisaitl? He’s right behind him with 966.
That’s not just production-it’s a two-man offensive engine that’s been driving the Oilers for nearly a decade. And when the lights get brighter in the playoffs, they don’t shrink.
They elevate.
But what often gets overlooked amid the scoring headlines is just how durable and consistent these two have been over the grind of an 82-game season. Long slumps?
They don’t really happen. And it’s not like they’re being sheltered, either-McDavid is averaging over 23 minutes a night this season, with Draisaitl just a hair under that at 22.
Those are heavy minutes for any forward, let alone two guys expected to carry the offensive load every single night.
This year, McDavid already has 93 points, and Draisaitl is sitting at 70. That’s business as usual for them.
But here’s the thing: even machines need maintenance. And while they’ve shown superhuman endurance, the sheer amount of hockey they’ve played is starting to stack up.
The Wear and Tear Is Real
The Oilers have been in the thick of it for years now. It’s not just the regular season mileage-it’s the deep playoff runs, the high-leverage minutes, the physical toll of chasing a Cup.
Over the past four postseasons, Edmonton has advanced beyond the first round every time, making it to the Western Conference Final three times and the Stanley Cup Final twice. McDavid and Draisaitl have each played 75 playoff games during that stretch.
That’s essentially another full season packed into a few years, and those games aren’t exactly low-intensity.
And the schedule isn’t doing them any favors this year. With the Olympics on deck, McDavid and Draisaitl are logging even more high-stakes minutes.
McDavid already added a few extra games to his calendar last February during the 4 Nations Face-Off, and now he’s expected to lead Team Canada in what’s shaping up to be a grueling Olympic tournament. That break in the NHL schedule might be a chance for some players to recharge-but not for Edmonton’s top duo.
Can the Oilers Keep Pushing?
There’s no questioning the talent in Edmonton. Beyond McDavid and Draisaitl, players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard, and Mattias Ekholm have all been instrumental in the Oilers’ recent success. But those guys have logged a lot of hockey too, and it raises a fair question: how much gas is left in the tank?
This isn’t about doubting McDavid or Draisaitl. If history tells us anything, it’s that betting against them is usually a losing proposition. But even the best eventually hit a wall, and with the cumulative wear of regular seasons, playoff wars, and now international competition, it’s fair to wonder if we’ll see signs of fatigue as the 2025-26 season winds down-or in the pressure cooker of the playoffs.
Still, there’s a silver lining. If this is the year the Oilers fall short of their ultimate goal, it could offer something this group hasn’t had in a while: rest.
And with McDavid locked in for two more seasons after signing his extension ahead of this campaign, Edmonton isn’t in a win-now-or-never situation. The window is still open.
But make no mistake-this team is built around two players who’ve already given everything and then some. The question now is whether they can summon just a little bit more.