Draisaitl Reaches 1,000 NHL Points, Making History for Germany
Photo credit: IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
Written by Gina Anton
Leon Draisaitl became the first German-born player to reach 1,000 career points in the NHL. On Tuesday, the moment passed without ceremony. There was no stoppage in play, no dramatic pause, and no attempt to frame it as historic in real time. The puck moved on. The shift ended. The game continued. That is often how it goes with Draisaitl. His milestones arrive quietly, as though they were inevitable. Yet what occurred in that moment was anything but routine.
Reaching 1,000 points is often described as a product of longevity. Stay healthy, play long enough, and remain in favorable situations, and the numbers eventually follow.
Over his first 11 NHL seasons, Leon Draisaitl has reached the 50-goal mark four times and topped 100 points in six seasons. His most productive year came in 2022–23, when he set a career best with 128 points, scoring 52 goals and adding 76 assists over 80 games. From the 2018–19 season onward, Draisaitl sits second among all NHL players in total scoring, compiling 796 points (341 goals, 455 assists) across 555 games, with only Connor McDavid ahead of him at 882 points in 537 games.
“A lot of hard work. A lot of people that helped along the way,” Draisaitl said in a postgame interview. “These accomplishments, they’re always directed at the single player, but there’s so many people that play such a big part in that. I’m highly aware of the fact that I’ve got a lot of people in my life over the last couple of years that have just kept everything off my plate and kind of let me do what I do and what I wanted to do. Just super grateful, super thankful, and, of course, a little bit proud.”
Born in Cologne, Germany, Draisaitl developed his early game at home before moving to North America as a teenager in pursuit of higher competition. He played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League with the Prince Albert Raiders, where his skill set quickly distinguished him. That progression led to his selection by the Edmonton Oilers with the third overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. After early NHL experience and a brief return to junior hockey, he emerged as one of the league’s elite players.
His German roots matter not only for national pride but also for what they represent about the sport’s evolution. What makes his 1,000-point achievement even more striking is how little he has sought recognition along the way. He has played as though the numbers were incidental, allowing performance to speak first.
Germany was not traditionally viewed as a pipeline for NHL superstars. For decades, German hockey existed on the outside of the league’s priorities. It was respected and developing, but rarely central. Draisaitl entered the league as a dependable player and has remained one of its most reliable offensive forces.
The milestone also reframes the modern era of the Edmonton Oilers. Draisaitl is often discussed alongside Connor McDavid, but reaching 1,000 points firmly establishes his individual legacy. This is not greatness by proximity. It is standalone excellence, sustained through coaching changes, roster turnover, and constant expectation.
Details will blur over time, but the record will remain. Leon Draisaitl’s 1,000th NHL point marks a historic milestone for both his as a player and German hockey.
