Being an Edmonton Oilers fan is always filled with mixed emotions. Sometimes the team absolutely destroys their opponents, but sometimes they just tend to lose games at close quarters. And in the final five minutes of their latest game against the Colorado Avalanche, the Oilers lost the match after Martin Necas secured the game-winning goal for his team at Rogers Place.

Indeed, it was a close one, as the Oilers lost at home 4-5 to the Avs. However, despite this tough defeat, one of their star forwards reached a certain feat in his career and is now closer to Wayne Gretzky‘s franchise record, which has stood for nearly 36 years.

So who is this Oilers player? It’s Leon Draisaitl. He has been one of the top forwards in recent games for the Oilers, securing many top plays that have given the team an advantage over their opponents on the rink. Indeed, the German NHL star has been truly efficient for his team, and the fans just love him for his stints on the ice.

But what’s the record that he’s closing in on? So for the Edmonton Oilers, according to an X post by Sportsnet Stats, Wayne Gretzky has nine seasons with the team where he scored 40 or more goals, with his last one being the 1987-88 campaign, which was also his final season with the team. Jari Kurri, who was also one of his teammates, followed The Great One with seven seasons. However, Draisaitl has made this list with his goals against the Avs, as his tally for the season has reached 40.

The German NHL star is the league’s top goal scorer of the season, followed by Toronto Maple Leafs’ William Nylander with 33 goals. And what about his ranking in this franchise record of 40 or more goals in a single campaign? Draisaitl is now third, as he has six seasons with such statistics that just showcase his scoring prowess for the Oilers.

The 29-year-old has been with the team since the 2014 draft and began to play in the 2014-15 season. Draisaitl’s growth as a prominent forward for the team is visible every season. After all, he has maintained his goal-scoring consistency since then. If he remains on this trajectory, he could break Gretzky’s record, as he’s committed to the Oilers until the 2032-33 season, after signing a whopping eight-year, $112 million contract with an AAV of $14 million per season in 2024. And has he ever surpassed the Great One’s any other record lately?

The Edmonton Oilers’ star forward reaching new heights

The 2024-25 season for Leon Draisaitl has been nothing less than fantastic. He has been a vital part of the Edmonton Oilers in most of their games and has scored in many high-pressure situations to secure victory for his team. While the German NHL star has never cared about going for any certain record, he recently tied Wayne Gretzky’s record for career goals in the opening 5 minutes of a game.

Indeed, this took place during the Oilers’ game against the Washington Capitals on January 21, 2025. He has 29 career goals in such circumstances, and with that feat, he is chasing Mark Messier’s record of 30 career goals in the opening 5 minutes of a game in the Oilers franchise. This also allowed him to surpass teammate Connor McDavid, who is following close behind with 28 goals. Although Draisaitl has the lead in this mini internal competition, it wouldn’t take much for McDavid to snatch it back.

Truly, Draisaitl is a generational talent that the Oilers were able to grab at the finest opportunity. His loyalty to the team is never doubted, and since he will be staying for many more seasons to come, who knows, he might just be able to break a few more franchise records and might even try to get his hands on more prominent accolades in the NHL. After all, for Draisaitl and the rest of the Edmonton Oilers, the ultimate prize will always be the Stanley Cup itself.