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McLellan: 'We couldn't be happier' with Draisaitl's contributions

Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

He's been the hottest Edmonton Oiler in the month of December. No, not Connor McDavid.

Leon Draisaitl has been a wonder kid for the club this season, and especially as of late. The 21-year-old is coming off his fourth three-point game of the season Thursday - the second-highest total this year, trailing only McDavid's six such games - giving him a team-high eight points over his last five games.

His stellar start to the campaign had head coach Todd McLellan singing his praises on Friday.

"We couldn't be happier with what he's been giving us," said McLellan.

He's right.

With another three-point outing, Draisaitl now has 25 points through 29 games, good enough for 14th league-wide. His 12 goals and 11 power-play points put him in a tie with McDavid for the team lead, while his seven power-play goals are far and away the most on the club, with no other player adding more than three.

The fact is, in just his third season in the league, he's on pace for a monster campaign. At his current rate, he would finish with 33 goals and 70 points, eclipsing last year's career-high total by nearly 20 points.

For a second-line center, what more could the Oilers ask for?

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