### 📰 **BREAKING NEWS: Leon Draisaitl Wins 2024–2025 Hart Memorial Trophy in Historic Season for Oilers**
**June 19, 2025 | Edmonton, AB** — In a season that will be remembered for its thrilling comebacks, record-setting performances, and the resurgence of the Edmonton Oilers, superstar forward **Leon Draisaitl** has been officially named the **2024–25 Hart Memorial Trophy winner**, awarded annually to the NHL’s Most Valuable Player.
The announcement was made Thursday evening during the NHL Awards in Las Vegas, where Draisaitl was met with a thunderous standing ovation from players, fans, and media alike. It marks the **second Hart Trophy** of Draisaitl’s illustrious career, having first won the award in the COVID-shortened 2019–20 season. This latest honor further cements his legacy as one of the greatest players of his generation.
> *“It’s incredibly humbling to receive this award,”* Draisaitl said in his acceptance speech. *“To be recognized among such elite talent — and especially in a season like this — means the world to me. I share this with my teammates, coaches, and the city of Edmonton. We did this together.”*
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### 📈 A Season for the Ages
Draisaitl, 29, posted career-best numbers this year, finishing with **127 points (55 goals, 72 assists)** in 80 games — placing him second in league scoring behind Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, but ahead in **overall value to his team**, according to the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) voting.
What separated Draisaitl this season wasn’t just his offensive output, but his all-around leadership on both ends of the ice. With teammate and captain Connor McDavid sidelined for 15 games due to a midseason groin injury, Draisaitl took the reins of the Oilers’ offense — and defense. He played on the penalty kill, took key faceoffs, and was often double-shifted in tight games.
> *“When McDavid went down, Leon didn’t just step up — he exploded,”* said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. *“He became the engine of this team in every way.”*
The Oilers responded accordingly, going **11–3–1** in McDavid’s absence, largely due to Draisaitl’s dominance. That stretch is widely believed to have swayed many Hart Trophy voters, who ranked Draisaitl ahead of **Connor Hellebuyck** (Winnipeg Jets goaltender) and **Nikita Kucherov**, both of whom were also finalists.
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### 🗳️ Hart Trophy Voting Results (Top 5):
1. **Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers)** – 1,121 points (92 first-place votes)
2. Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets) – 987 points (58 first-place votes)
3. Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning) – 943 points
4. Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) – 622 points
5. David Pastrnak (Boston Bruins) – 508 points
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### 🛡️ Beyond Offense: A Two-Way Force
For years, critics had questioned Draisaitl’s defensive effort and consistency. But this season, he answered all of them. He led all NHL forwards in **takeaways**, ranked in the top five in **faceoff win percentage**, and averaged over **22 minutes of ice time** per game — the highest of his career.
He was also instrumental in Edmonton’s special teams. The Oilers’ power play, already potent, reached new heights with Draisaitl operating with surgical precision from the left circle. On the penalty kill, he added three shorthanded goals — a career high.
> *“It’s easy to focus on the highlight reels, but Leon’s best work this year was in the dirty areas,”* said former Oiler and Hockey Night in Canada analyst Kevin Bieksa. *“He took pride in shutting guys down, blocking shots, and winning puck battles. That’s what made him the MVP.”*
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### 🏒 Oilers’ Resurgence and Playoff Push
The Hart win comes at the tail end of a season that saw Edmonton finish second in the Western Conference with a **51–23–8 record**, their best regular-season finish since the Gretzky era.
While the Oilers’ postseason run ended in a heartbreaking **Western Conference Final loss to the Colorado Avalanche** in six games, Draisaitl was again a force, scoring **21 points in 14 playoff games**. He now has the second-highest points-per-game average in NHL playoff history (minimum 50 games), trailing only Wayne Gretzky.
> *“What Leon did this year reminds me of Messier in ’90,”* said Oilers legend Paul Coffey. *“Complete control of the game, leading with fire and grit.”*
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### 🏆 A New Era in Edmonton
The award is a significant milestone for both Draisaitl and the Oilers organization. While McDavid has often been the face of the franchise (and the league), Draisaitl has carved his own identity — one built on resilience, consistency, and elite hockey IQ.
With both stars now owning Hart Trophies, the Oilers become the first team in over 25 years to have **two different players win the MVP award within a five-year span**. The last duo to achieve that? **Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr** with the 1990s Pittsburgh Penguins.
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### 🔮 What’s Next?
Draisaitl is entering the final year of his current contract, and speculation has swirled about a potential extension. With this Hart win and his unmatched chemistry with McDavid, insiders expect Oilers GM Ken Holland to **make re-signing him the team’s top offseason priority**.
> *“I want to be an Oiler for life,”* Draisaitl said when asked about his future. *“We’re building something special here, and I want to finish what we started.”*
Fans in Edmonton couldn’t be happier. Following the award announcement, hundreds gathered at Rogers Place to celebrate, chanting Draisaitl’s name and waving German flags — a nod to the Cologne-born superstar’s roots.
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### 📜 Final Thoughts
Leon Draisaitl’s 2024–25 Hart Trophy win isn’t just a personal triumph — it’s a story of evolution, responsibility, and grit. In a league filled with speed and flash, Draisaitl reminded everyone that greatness also lies in balance, commitment, and rising when your team needs you most.
Tonight, the Hart belongs to Leon. But make no mistake: this story is far from over.
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