Welcome to Oilersnation’s top 15 stories of the year, where we count down the most-read stories you, the reader, clicked on in 2024.
Number 10 broke down more honours for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who were named among the top NHL players in the 21st century.
This one came during the dog days of summer, when ESPN launched a piece looking at the top 25 NHL’ers of the 21st century. McDavid was named the third best player, behind Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, while Draisaitl came in 13th, behind Steven Stamkos, Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Evgeni Malkin, Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Brodeur, Nathan MacKinnon, Nicklas Lindstrom, Patrick Kane, and the aforementioned three.
Here’s some of what Cam Lewis wrote when breaking down the latest nod for the Dynamic Duo:
In third place is Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, who has produced at a historic pace over the first nine years of his career but hasn’t yet won hockey’s top prize.“It could be daunting to be touted as The Next One behind Edmonton Oilers legend Wayne Gretzky. McDavid isn’t like the rest, though. Edmonton’s captain has embraced that spotlight as Gretzky’s heir apparent. It was fitting when McDavid broke a record Gretzky set in 1987-88 with his 32nd assist of the 2024 postseason during Edmonton’s run to a Stanley Cup Final. McDavid had long been an exceptional playmaker in his own right, but the way he carried the Oilers back from a 3-0 series deficit in the Final to force a decisive Game 7 was spectacular. And it rightly earned McDavid a Conn Smythe Trophy in the losing effort.” – Kirsten ShiltonThree-time Stanley Cup winner Patrick Kane is the first American player on the list at fourth and seven-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom is the first defenceman at fifth. Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche is ranked sixth, and then two goals, Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist, come in and seventh and eighth. After Evgeni Malkin, Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, and Steven Stamkos is Leon Draisaitl, who lands 13th on the list.“Draisaitl was drafted third in 2014 with the hope he could become a key player for the Oilers’ future plans. Instead? He emerged into a second generational center alongside McDavid. A three-time 50-goal scorer, he’s had more than 100 points in five of the past six seasons. In 2020, he won the Hart and Art Ross, which further cemented his status as one of the NHL’s best contemporary players.” — Ryan S. Clark
McDavid and Draisaitl’s huge playoff performances last year surely helped them in getting on this list, but the truth of the matter is these guys are some of the most dominant players this century. Among 496 players with over 676 games since the start of the 1999-00 season, as many as McDavid has played so far in his career at the time of writing, McDavid ranks 20th in points, with 1031, and Draisaitl 38th with 902.
But when looking at point-per-game rates, McDavid’s 1.53 ranks first, while Draisaitl’s 1.2 ranks fourth.
Top 15 articles of 2024
- No. 15: Corey Perry, Evander Kane exchange words on the bench
- No. 14: Oilersnation pranks fans by saying Ken Holland signed extension
- No. 13: Adding Corey Perry “changes the outlook” of Oilers’ trade deadline, could “open the door” for Jack Campbell move
- No. 12: ‘I wouldn’t have gone out there for a million dollars’: Connor McDavid talks about declining to accept Conn Smythe
- No. 11: Rumours swirled at draft Oilers asked Evander Kane to waive no-movement clause
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist, making up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
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