Oilers' Sniper Has the Best Chance to Beat McDavid for the Maurice Richard Trophy
Connor McDavid won the Maurice Richard Trophy last year, but this other Edmonton Oiler should get his time to shine in 2023-24.
In 2022-23 Edmonton Oilers' forward Connor McDavid put up a stat line of 64 goals and 89 assists for 153 points in 82 games. He did that in 22:23 of average time on ice per game. As a result he walked away with the Art Ross Trophy and the Maurice Richard Trophy for the season.
One of McDavid's teammates is primed to also get his time in the lime light as a 60+ goal scorer. This is a teammate who has put in a tremendous amount of work in over the summer, despite hitting at least 50 goals three times in the past five seasons. Of course I am talking about Leon Draisaitl.
Draisaitl's career high in goals is 55. He has an incredible 18.1 career shooting percentage. A typical sniper in the NHL has an average shooting percentage of 13 to 15% generally speaking. Draisaitl has a higher career shooting percentage than the following players: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Debrincat, Auston Matthews, Steven Stamkos, Sidney Crosby, Nikita Kucherov and David Pastrnak.
On the Oilers Now radio show with Bob Stauffer, Draisaitl mentioned working on his shot this summer. Specifically, working on shooting through defenders. He has an incredibly dangerous one-timer on the goal line while on the power play. To add this detail to his game could increase his goal potential even more.
Combine increased time on ice, a high shooting percentage, shooting a lot more, and continued dominance on the power play and it's easy to imagine Draisaitl scoring at least 60 goals - and winning the Maurice Richard Trophy in the process.
