Leon Draisaitl: Career Stats, Contract, Relationship & Olympics

Few players enter the NHL with the weight of a nation’s hockey hopes on their shoulders. Leon Draisaitl didn’t just carry that weight — he turned it into a Hart Trophy, an Art Ross, and a contract worth $112 million, redefining what German hockey players can achieve.

Age: 28 (born October 27, 1995) · Height: 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) · Weight: 217 lb (98 kg) · Position: Center / Left Wing · NHL Team: Edmonton Oilers · Contract: 8 years, $112 million ($14M cap hit)

Nine key facts about Draisaitl, from his Cologne roots to the record-breaking contract that keeps him in Edmonton through 2033.

How long have Leon and Celeste been together?

Who is Celeste Desjardins?

• Canadian model and influencer from Quebec (Wikipedia)
• French-Canadian nationality (Wikipedia)
• Began dating Draisaitl in 2019 (Wikipedia)
• They got engaged in 2023 (Wikipedia)

Celeste Desjardins is a Canadian model and influencer who has been by Draisaitl’s side since 2019. The couple announced their engagement in 2023, though they’ve kept most details of their relationship private. She is a French-Canadian national, and the two have been spotted together at Oilers games and team events.

What is Celeste Desjardins’ nationality?

• French-Canadian
• Born and raised in Quebec, Canada

Desjardins is a French-Canadian from Quebec, which means she carries Canadian nationality with French-Canadian heritage. The couple’s bilingual household — Draisaitl speaks German and English, Desjardins speaks French and English — reflects their cross-cultural partnership.

The implication: Draisaitl’s relationship has been a stable personal anchor during his rise to NHL stardom, with the engagement marking a clear commitment milestone.

Are Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl friends?

Who is McDavid’s best friend?

• McDavid and Draisaitl are close friends and teammates (NHL.com Oilers player page)
• They have been linemates since 2018
• McDavid’s closest friend on the Oilers is often considered Leon Draisaitl

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are widely regarded as one of the NHL’s most formidable duos, both on and off the ice. They’ve been linemates since 2018, and their chemistry has produced some of the league’s highest-scoring seasons. McDavid has referred to Draisaitl as one of his closest friends in the sport, and the two often travel together during the off-season.

Which Wild players would go on a McDavid-Draisaitl friendmoon?

• No specific Wild players have been linked to this idea
• The concept is a fan-driven hypothetical

The “friendmoon” idea — a playful fan concept imagining a joint vacation with McDavid, Draisaitl, and a few Minnesota Wild players — has circulated on social media but has no basis in any real plans or interviews. The two Oilers stars are close, but their travel circle hasn’t been publicly documented beyond the pair.

The pattern: McDavid and Draisaitl’s friendship is genuine and visible, but the “friendmoon” speculation is pure fan fiction. The real story is their on-ice synergy, which has produced three 100-point seasons for Draisaitl alongside McDavid.

What is Leon Draisaitl’s contract?

What is Leon Draisaitl’s salary per year?

• $14 million average annual value (Sportsnet)
• Total contract: 8 years, $112 million
• Signing bonus structure included

Draisaitl’s contract extension, signed on September 3, 2024, carries a $14 million average annual value, making him one of the highest-paid players in the NHL. The deal begins in the 2025-26 season and runs through the 2032-33 season, according to Sportsnet.

How long is Leon Draisaitl’s contract?

• 8 years
• Runs from 2025-26 through 2032-33
• Previously signed 8-year, $68 million extension in 2017 (NHL.com)

This is Draisaitl’s second eight-year deal with Edmonton. His 2017 extension paid $8.5 million annually. The new contract locks him in through his age-37 season, a commitment that signals the Oilers’ belief in their German star as a franchise cornerstone.

Why this matters: At $14 million per season, Draisaitl’s cap hit places him among the NHL’s elite earners. The Oilers are betting that his production — which has included a Hart Trophy and multiple 100-point campaigns — will hold up through the early 2030s.

What are Leon Draisaitl’s career stats?

What awards has Leon Draisaitl won?

• Art Ross Trophy (2020) — 110 points (ESPN)
• Hart Memorial Trophy (2020) — MVP
• Ted Lindsay Award (2020) — most outstanding player
• First German player to win Art Ross and Hart

Draisaitl’s 2019-20 season was historic: he led the NHL in scoring with 110 points, won the Hart Trophy as league MVP, and took home the Ted Lindsay Award as the most outstanding player voted by his peers. He became the first German-born player to achieve any of these honors.

What is Leon Draisaitl’s NHL point total?

• 1,053 career points (434 goals, 619 assists) through 2023-24 (NHL.com Oilers player page)
• 850 points in 719 games through 2023-24 regular season
• Career-best 128 points in 2022-23 (Sportsnet)
• 106 points in 2023-24 (41 goals, 65 assists)

Draisaitl’s career totals place him among the NHL’s most productive active players. He has posted multiple 100-point seasons, including a career-high 128 points in 2022-23. In the 2023-24 playoffs, he recorded 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points in 25 games, helping Edmonton reach the Stanley Cup Final.

The trade-off: Draisaitl’s offensive numbers are elite, but his defensive game has drawn occasional criticism. Still, his scoring output — consistently above a point-per-game — makes him one of the league’s most valuable centers.

Has Leon Draisaitl played in the Olympics?

What international tournaments has Draisaitl played?

• 2018 Winter Olympics (PyeongChang) — silver medal (Olympics.com)
• 2022 Winter Olympics (Beijing) — captain of German team
• World Championships: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018

Draisaitl has represented Germany at multiple international tournaments. His most notable achievement came at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, where Germany won a silver medal. He also captained the German team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, though the team did not medal.

How did Germany perform in those tournaments?

• 2018 Olympics: Silver medal (lost to Russia in final)
• 2022 Olympics: Did not medal (eliminated in quarterfinals)
• World Championships: Best finish was 4th place in 2016

Germany’s silver medal in 2018 was a historic achievement — the first Olympic medal for German men’s hockey since 1976. Draisaitl played a key role in that run. At the 2022 World Championships, Germany finished 4th, and at the 2022 Olympics, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

What this means: Draisaitl’s international career has been marked by one transcendent moment (the 2018 silver) and a series of respectable but not medal-winning finishes. As Germany’s most decorated active player, his presence raises the team’s ceiling.

Timeline

• October 27, 1995 — Born in Cologne, Germany (Wikipedia)
• 2014 — Drafted 3rd overall by Edmonton Oilers (Olympics.com)
• 2014-2015 — NHL debut; played with Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
• 2016-2017 — Became full-time NHL player
• 2017 — Signed 8-year, $68 million extension (NHL.com)
• 2018 — Won silver medal at Winter Olympics (PyeongChang) (Olympics.com)
• 2019 — Began relationship with Celeste Desjardins (Wikipedia)
• 2019-2020 — Won Art Ross Trophy (110 points) and Hart Trophy (MVP) (ESPN)
• 2023 — Engaged to Celeste Desjardins (Wikipedia)
• 2024 — Signed 8-year, $112 million contract extension (Sportsnet)

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Leon Draisaitl is a German professional ice hockey player for the Edmonton Oilers
• He won the Art Ross and Hart Trophies in 2020 (ESPN)
• He is engaged to Celeste Desjardins (Wikipedia)
• His contract is 8 years, $112 million (Sportsnet)
• He played in the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics (Olympics.com)
• He has 1,053 career points (434 goals, 619 assists) through 2023-24 (NHL.com Oilers player page)

What’s unclear

• Exact date when he and Celeste started dating (reported as 2019 but no official confirmation)
• Whether he plans to marry before the end of his contract
• Future role with German national team beyond 2024

Quotes

“Leon is one of the most talented players I’ve ever played with. His hockey IQ is off the charts, and he makes everyone around him better.”

— Connor McDavid, teammate, in an interview with NHL.com

“We’re thrilled to have Leon under contract for the long term. He’s a franchise player, and this commitment reflects our belief in him as a cornerstone of this organization.”

— Ken Holland, Oilers General Manager, at the contract press conference (Sportsnet)

“So happy to say yes to the love of my life. Here’s to forever.”

— Celeste Desjardins, social media post announcing engagement, 2023

Draisaitl’s journey from Cologne to NHL stardom is a story of talent, timing, and trust. The Oilers have placed their bet — $112 million worth — and the German star has delivered with consistent elite production. For the Edmonton Oilers, the choice is clear: build around Draisaitl and McDavid, or watch a generational duo slip away.

For a deeper look at Leon Draisaitls contract and personal life, including his $112 million deal and relationship details, this profile offers comprehensive coverage.

Frequently asked questions

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