Two Oilers forwards could break stunning franchise record in Game 1 of regular season

Yet, as early as game-1 of the 2025-26 season, we could see a new franchise record holder for game-winning-goals, currently held by 3 players, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Glen Anderson, each with 72.

McDavid managed his record-tying gwg in 712 games played, Draisaitl in 790 games, and Anderson in 1487. Fourth on the list is Wayne Gretzky, with 61gwg, and 5th is Jari Kurri, with 60.

Over their careers with various teams, however, Glen Anderson has scored 85 gwg, while Wayne Gretzky scored 91.

Given their young ages, it's a certainty that both McDavid and Draisaitl will obliterate the Oilers' record for GWG, though which of the two players finishes 1st is anyone's guess, given their ability to score big goals in big moments.

Draisaitl is a pure goal scorer who is a constant threat to score, while McDavid's ability to turn on the jets when a goal is needed is second-to-none. Both are magicians on the powerplay, which ranks first in the NHL, and have the skill to close-out games on the man advantage also.

So expect the GWG franchise-total to go back-and-forth between McDavid and Draisaitl next season, and beyond. It will be one of the rare records that is not owned by a player named Wayne Gretzky.

Speaking of legends, last year Connor McDavid was the 1st player to record 100-assists in a season since Wayne Gretzky, though Gretzky did it 11 times. Can't see that record being broken, ever, though that was also said of The Great One's goals-record, until Ovechkin scored 897 in the regular season, and took 1st-palce in the record book.