2024 Stanley Cup Final: Will Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl break Wayne Gretzky’s points record?

The Edmonton Oilers are back in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006 and the superstar duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl deserves a lot of credit as they continue to build on their legacies. But, can McDavid and/or Draisaitl break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 13 points in the Stanley Cup Final?

Connor McDavid

McDavid leads the playoffs with 31 points (5G, 26A) in 18 games, becoming the sixth player in NHL history to have multiple playoff years with at least 30 points (he had 33 in 2022). The series-clinching Game 6 against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final is a perfect example of McDavid’s game-changing ability. He scored a highlight reel goal to open the scoring before setting up Zach Hyman for the eventual game (and series) winner.

McDavid is averaging 1.72 points per game in the playoffs, which shows how consistent he is as he averaged 1.74 ppg during the regular season. McDavid will need to be a touch better against Florida, however, if he wants to break the Stanley Cup Final points record as 1.72 ppg won’t be enough. Over a seven-game series, McDavid currently projects to finish with 12 points, one shy of Gretzky’s record of 13.

But, we’re also talking about a player who can rattle off four-point games like he’s playing on a backyard rink. Who would be shocked if McDavid had five or six points in the first two games alone?

Leon Draisaitl

Draisaitl, who is second in playoff scoring with 28 points (10G, 18A), is the only player who can rival McDavid’s dominance. He leads the playoffs with six power play goals and he’s a scoring threat anywhere on the ice. Draisaitl’s 41 goals in 67 career playoff games is the best goals-per-game average of all NHL players since 2000 and his 1.57 career ppg in the playoffs ranks fourth all-time.

Draisaitl’s opportunity to break Gretzky’s record will likely come from the power play. Edmonton is clicking at a 37.3 per cent (19-for-51) success rate on the man advantage in the playoffs and they’ve stayed hot while scoring on four of five power plays over the final two games of the Western Conference Final.

Draisaitl is obviously a major piece of the Oilers’ power play, so if the team continues to get chances at 5-on-4, he has a shot to break Gretzky’s record.