McDavid Still Leading the Charge, Even as the Pace Slows
The fireworks of December may have faded, but Connor McDavid’s impact hasn’t. After putting together one of the most explosive months we’ve seen in decades, McDavid has cooled off slightly in January - and that’s to be expected.
Matching the 30-point month he just posted would’ve been historic (literally - the last to do it was Mario Lemieux, three decades ago). Still, even with the inevitable regression, McDavid hasn’t relinquished his spot atop the NHL’s points leaderboard.
That says everything about the kind of season he’s having.
There are nights where McDavid looks like he’s dragging the team across the finish line himself. His speed, vision, and ability to take over a game are unmatched, and when he’s locked in, there’s not much a defense can do except try to contain the damage.
But here’s the thing - we’re deep enough into the season now that the margin for error is shrinking fast. If the Oilers are going to make a serious push, McDavid can’t be the only engine.
The team needs more than just a few passengers turning into contributors.
Draisaitl Steady Despite Disruptions
Leon Draisaitl holds steady at No. 2, and while his signature one-timer from the right circle hasn’t been as lethal on the power play lately, he’s still putting up elite numbers.
He missed a few games recently, taking a leave to be with family in Germany - a completely understandable absence, but one that certainly didn’t help the team’s rhythm. Even so, Draisaitl hasn’t missed a beat statistically. He’s producing at 1.44 points per game this season, which is well above his already-impressive 1.22 average from last year.
That’s what makes Draisaitl so valuable - even when he’s not at his absolute best, he’s still among the most productive players in the league. The Oilers are lucky to have two players capable of carrying the load offensively. But as the season tightens up, they’ll need the rest of the roster to step up and lighten that burden if they want to make real noise in the postseason.