Oilers’ Draisaitl gunning for “crazy” 50 in 50 feat not seen in 30 years
Leon Draisaitl doesn’t seem to think he’s going to do it.
It seems like there’s plenty of reason to disagree with him.
But Draisaitl has charged out of the gate to the tune of 20 goals in 19 games, sparking discussion as to whether or not the German-born sniper can join elite company and become the first player to hit that elusive 50 goals in 50 games mark since Brett Hull notched the accomplishment some 30 years ago.
“I think it’s a little, I don’t know what to say, crazy to think that I’m going to score 50 goals in 50 games,” Draisaitl said Wednesday following a 5-3 win against the Arizona Coyotes — a quiet two-goal, four-point outing for the multipurpose forward.
“Obviously, right now, pucks are going in for me, but this is a tough league to score in, so I don’t expect to hit that stat at all. I’m going to keep shooting. If they go in, great.
“I know there are going to come times when they’re probably not going to go in.”
Leon Draisaitl (2-2—4) is up to 20 goals through 19 games. The last player to record 20 tallies in fewer contests: Mario Lemieux (1995-96: 18 GP).#NHLStats: https://t.co/6QIo3NiqKb pic.twitter.com/D6ohsMbZDg
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 25, 2021
The only player in Oilers franchise history to reach the 20-goal plateau in fewer games played than Draisaitl is Wayne Gretzky, in 1983-84. The last player league-wide to do it was Pittsburgh Penguins captain Mario Lemieux in 1995-96.
Maurice Richard was the first to hit 50 goals in 50 games, doing it in those exact digits, in 1944-45 with the Montreal Canadiens. Mike Bossy was the next, also matching the 50-goal, 50-game mark in 1980-81 with the New York Islanders.
Gretzky did it three times (1981-82, 1983-84, 1984-85) and is the quickest in NHL history to accomplish the feat — reaching it in 39 games exactly 40 years ago.
Lemieux took 46 games to hit 50 goals in 1988-89, and Hull did it in back-to-back seasons — first in 49 games and following up with a 50-game reach, in 1990-91 and 1991-92.
“It hasn’t happened in a long time,” Oilers coach Dave Tippett added. “I know there was lots of fascination with it when it was happening, whether it was Gretzky or Bossy…but Brett Hull. Lots of fascination with that. Leon is finding a way to keep pace with it so we’ll see where it goes.
“I think it’s harder to do today, and Leon is finding a way to keep pace.”
Still, not bad company to be mentioned in.
And while there may not be a lot of internal belief, history has shown it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that the 26-year-old gives it a solid run.
Gretzky, in that 1983-84 season, finished with 87 goals. He also reached 92 goals in 1981-82 after starting the season with 19 goals in 19 games. Jari Kurri started the 1984-85 season with 19 goals in 19 games and eventually settled into a 71-goal campaign.
Most Goals Through #LetsGoOilers First 19 Games of a Season:
Wayne Gretzky (1983-84) – 24
Leon Draisaitl (2021-22) – 20
Jari Kurri (1984-85) – 19
Wayne Gretzky (1981-82) – 19— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) November 25, 2021
And if Draisaitl needs a slightly larger sample size to help convince him, he had seven goals in six games to close out the 2020-21 season.
That gives him 27 goals in his past 25 regular-season games.
And a legit shot when he’s scoring at a goal-per-game pace.
“You expect me to score 82 goals this year?” questioned, Draisaitl, who is also the first player to record 40 points through the first 19 team games of a season since 1995-96 when Mario Lemieux had 44 points, and Jaromir Jagr hit 41 points.
“That’s not going to happen.
“That’s not going to happen. Obviously, playing with No. 97 makes it a lot easier. A lot more free ice with him out there with him. I don’t expect that of myself. That’s not anything that’s realistic. I’m just going to continue doing my thing, and if they go in, great.
“It’s a hard league to score in.”
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