Leon Draisaitl has become the most successful German ice hockey player of all time at the age of just 24. Draisaitl grew up playing hockey in Germany for the Cologne Sharks until he was selected second overall in the 2012 CHL Import Draft by the Prince Albert Raiders. After two seasons with the Raiders, he was drafted third overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, making him the highest drafted German-trained player in NHL history.

In 2020, the 24-year-old forward became the first German-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy as the leading point scorer in the NHL. What’s more his playmaking prowess and deft scoring touch have seen him nominated for two of hockey’s biggest honours: the Hart Trophy (given to the player judged to be the most valuable to their team) and the Ted Lindsay Award (given to the most outstanding player in the regular season and voted on by members of the NHLPA).