Welcome to the 2022-23 season review and 2023-24 season preview player-by-player! In this and other articles, we’ll be, well, reviewing the 2022-23 season of Edmonton Oilers players and previewing their 2023-24 season. You can read about the analytics behind my analysis here.
Welcome back to the dynamic duo.
Connor McDavid
5×5
NHL GP
TOI + TOI/GP
G – A – P
CF
CA
CF%
SCF
SCA
SCF%
GF
GA
GF%
xGF
xGA
xGF%
PDO
Individual
82
1308.27
27-32-59
1404
1186
54.21
814
592
57.89
75
62
54.74
76.22
55.95
57.67
1.01
Per/60
15.95
1.61-0.80-2.41
64.39
54.39
37.33
27.15
3.44
2.84
3.5
2.57
Per/60, RelTm%
9.7
2.28
3
9.31
0.2
6.92
0.8
0.43
2.49
0.82
0.02
6.43
Leon Draisaitl
5×5
NHL GP
TOI + TOI/GP
G – A – P
CF
CA
CF%
SCF
SCA
SCF%
GF
GA
GF%
xGF
xGA
xGF%
PDO
Individual
80
1269.72
34-17-51
1278
1173
52.14
706
613
53.53
74
70
51.39
66.65
60.01
52.62
1.00
Per/60
15.87
1.63-0.74-2.37
60.39
55.43
33.36
28.97
3.5
3.31
3.15
2.84
Per/60, RelTm%
3.76
3.77
-0.15
3.38
2.67
0.25
0.91
1.09
-2.49
0.29
0.4
-1.3
As if there was ever any other way to look at both of their success’ than a combined review article. 
It doesn’t need to be said anymore, but Connor McDavid and Leon Drasiatl are two of, if not the, best hockey players in the world. We saw McDavid take his game to another level this past season, smashing through the 60-goal plateau, and that’s a number his for the taking once again. His offensive game continues to grow with every passing year, and much of the same can be said for Leon Draisaitl, who posted a career-high in points last season, smashing his prior high.
But what’s becoming more and more apparent from both players is their commitment to a well-rounded game. As their impact charts above show, both players are well above elite first-line talents and have seen growth in their defensive play. For McDavid, the corner turned seasons ago, but for Draisaitl, last year marked a significant increase in his defensive impact. 
The chart and underlying numbers undervalue some of what he does, at least in my eyes. For example, there’s a significant discretion between Draisaitl’s goals against per hour and his expected goal against per hour numbers, suggesting he’s found himself — at least statistically — on the short end of the stick. Nonetheless, it’s still a significant improvement over where he has been in the past.
This year, expect much more of the same from these two. McDavid shouldn’t have any issue scoring 60 again this year, and in Draisaitl’s case, a 130+ point season is well within his grasp. 

DRAISAITL’S CAREER SO FAR

Regular season
Playoffs
Season
Team
Lge
GP
G
A
Pts
PIM
+/-
GP
G
A
Pts
PIM
2012-13
Prince Albert Raiders
WHL
64
21
37
58
22
22
4
0
4
4
0
2013-14
Prince Albert Raiders
WHL
64
38
67
105
24
7
4
1
2
3
4
2014-15
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
37
2
7
9
4
-17
2014-15
Kelowna Rockets
WHL
32
19
34
53
25
14
19
10
18
28
12
2015-16
Bakersfield Condors
AHL
6
1
1
2
4
-5
2015-16
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
72
19
32
51
20
-2
2016-17
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
82
29
48
77
20
7
13
6
10
16
19
2017-18
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
78
25
45
70
30
-7
2018-19
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
82
50
55
105
52
2
2019-20
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
71
43
67
110
18
-7
4
3
3
6
0
2020-21
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
56
31
53
84
22
29
4
2
3
5
2
2021-22
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
80
55
55
110
40
17
16
7
25
32
6
2022-23
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
80
52
76
128
24
7
12
13
5
18
10
NHL Totals
638
306
438
744
230
49
31
46
77
37

McDAVID’S CAREER SO FAR

Regular Season
Playoffs
Season
Team
Lge
GP
G
A
Pts
PIM
+/-
GP
G
A
Pts
PIM
2012-13
Erie Otters
OHL
63
25
41
66
36
-24
2013-14
Erie Otters
OHL
56
28
71
99
20
47
14
4
15
19
2
2014-15
Erie Otters
OHL
47
44
76
120
48
60
20
21
28
49
12
2015-16
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
45
16
32
48
18
-1
2016-17
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
82
30
70
100
26
27
13
5
4
9
2
2017-18
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
82
41
67
108
26
20
2018-19
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
78
41
75
116
20
3
2019-20
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
64
34
63
97
28
-6
4
5
4
9
2
2020-21
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
56
33
72
105
20
21
4
1
3
4
0
2021-22
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
80
44
79
123
45
28
16
10
23
33
10
2022-23
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
82
64
89
153
36
22
12
8
12
20
0
NHL Totals
569
303
547
850
219
49
29
46
75
14
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.