Leon Draisaitl: German Ice Hockey Star
Early Life and Career
Leon Draisaitl was born on October 27, 1995, in Cologne, Germany. He began his ice hockey career at the age of 17 with the Kölner Haie in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). In his first season, he recorded 17 goals and 41 points in 54 games. The following season, he led the DEL in scoring with 35 goals and 61 points in 56 games.
NHL Career
In 2014, Draisaitl was drafted third overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 2014-15 season and quickly became one of the team's top players. In his rookie season, he recorded 19 goals and 38 points in 72 games. The following season, he improved his numbers to 28 goals and 67 points in 82 games. In the 2016-17 season, he had a breakout year, scoring 41 goals and 105 points in 82 games. He was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player.
Draisaitl has continued to be a top player for the Oilers, scoring 50 goals and 110 points in 82 games in the 2018-19 season. He was named the NHL's First Team All-Star and won the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer. In the 2019-20 season, he had another strong season, scoring 43 goals and 110 points in 71 games. He was again named a finalist for the Hart Trophy.
International Career
Draisaitl has represented Germany at the international level. He played for the German national team at the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2016 World Championships. He was named the MVP of the 2016 World Championships after leading the tournament in scoring.
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