Breaking: Edmonton Oilers #29 and left wing Leon Draisaitl donates $7.5 million to turn a house in downtown Edmonton into a shelter for the homeless as a token of gratitude.

In an act that transcends the bounds of sport and echoes the true meaning of gratitude and community, Edmonton Oilers superstar and alternate captain Leon Draisaitl has donated $7.5 million to transform a property in downtown Edmonton into a homeless shelter.

The move, which stunned not only the city but the larger hockey community, solidifies the German-born forward’s status not only as one of the NHL’s premier talents but as a deeply compassionate individual grounded in purpose beyond the rink.

Leon Draisaitl, affectionately known in Oil Country as “Germany’s Gift,” has always let his play do the talking. But on Friday morning, at a press conference held inside Rogers Place, Draisaitl revealed a more personal side.

“This city embraced me when I was just a kid,” he said, pausing with emotion. “I’ve played nearly a decade here, and Edmonton is home. I’ve grown not just as a player, but as a man. This gift is a way of saying thank you.”

The donation will fund the complete renovation and operational costs for a three-story historic house located just east of Jasper Avenue—formerly a private residence—into a state-of-the-art transitional housing facility. The shelter, which will be named “Haus der Hoffnung”—German for “House of Hope”—will be operated in partnership with Homeward Trust Edmonton and the Boyle Street Community Services.

Draisaitl, who won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2020 and continues to average over a point per game, has long been considered the steady heartbeat behind Connor McDavid’s explosive play. Yet this move may go down as his most lasting legacy in Edmonton.

“This is about dignity,” Draisaitl explained. “No one should sleep in the cold. No child should wonder where their next meal comes from. I want this to be a place of warmth, safety, and a chance to start again.”

The shelter will include 35 beds, on-site mental health counseling, addiction recovery services, a commercial kitchen, job training rooms, and a children’s play area. It will be staffed 24/7 and designed to help individuals transition from homelessness into permanent housing.

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, flanked by city council members and local community leaders, called the donation “a landmark moment in Edmonton’s humanitarian history.”

“We are so used to seeing athletes dominate on the ice, on the court, on the field,” Sohi said. “But Leon’s actions remind us that greatness is not just measured in goals or trophies. It’s measured in kindness, in giving back.”

The announcement drew applause across social media and civic circles, with residents, nonprofits, and fellow athletes praising Draisaitl’s humility and vision. The Edmonton Oilers organization pledged logistical support and pledged additional resources to help furnish the shelter and promote volunteerism among staff and fans.

Draisaitl has never been one for flashy interviews, but those close to him say the issue of homelessness has weighed on him for years.

“Every winter, when we’re on the bus or driving home from the rink, he notices the people under blankets in the snow,” said teammate and close friend Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “He always says, ‘We have to do more.’ This is him doing more in a way that’s real and permanent.”

The Oilers’ German phenom has often walked unnoticed through downtown Edmonton in the off-season, sometimes stopping to chat with locals. Community leaders say they’ve spotted him dropping off coats or quietly donating to food banks without fanfare.

While Edmonton has several shelters and housing initiatives, the Draisaitl-backed Haus der Hoffnung stands out for its comprehensive design and trauma-informed approach.

In partnership with local Indigenous leaders, the facility will include a healing room for cultural ceremonies and restorative justice practices. Rooms will be private, rather than communal bunks, to allow for dignity and recovery. A rooftop garden is planned to grow vegetables for use in the shelter’s meals, and a tech lab will help guests build resumes and apply for jobs.

“This is not just a shelter,” said Susan McGee, CEO of Homeward Trust. “This is a chance to reinvent what compassionate care looks like. Leon didn’t just write a check—he sat in planning meetings, he toured facilities, and he asked the tough questions.”

Construction will begin in June and is expected to conclude by summer 2026.

Word of Draisaitl’s donation spread quickly through the NHL ranks. Messages of praise came pouring in from players, coaches, and analysts.

“Leon’s always been a class act,” said Sidney Crosby, captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins. “But this is next level. He’s not just a leader on the ice—he’s the kind of person you want your kids to look up to.”

TSN’s Darren Dreger tweeted, “You can’t teach heart like this. Draisaitl just raised the bar for what it means to be a franchise cornerstone.”

Even rival teams joined the chorus. The Calgary Flames’ official X account posted, “Today, we’re all fans of #29. Respect to Leon Draisaitl for his incredible gift to the community.”

Draisaitl also revealed that the idea stemmed from childhood stories told by his grandparents, who lived through postwar poverty in Germany.

“My oma told me once, ‘Kindness is your greatest currency,’” Draisaitl shared. “I’ve never forgotten that.”

That heritage is reflected in the shelter’s bilingual signage (German and English), its welcoming aesthetic, and the communal meals that will echo the family-style cooking Draisaitl remembers from growing up in Cologne.

“Leon always remembered where he came from,” said his father, Peter Draisaitl, who was in attendance. “And now he’s giving back in a way that honors his upbringing.”

Draisaitl’s contribution adds to a growing trend among Oilers players actively giving back. Connor McDavid’s “Goals for Schools” program recently raised over $1 million to support youth sports in northern Alberta, and Zach Hyman has spearheaded a digital literacy campaign for underprivileged youth.

But Draisaitl’s donation stands apart for its scale and permanence. Local sports historian Dan Barnes noted it as “perhaps the most impactful charitable act by an Edmonton athlete since Wayne Gretzky’s fundraising in the ‘80s.”

“This sets a gold standard,” Barnes added. “It’s not just about donating money—it’s about creating infrastructure, legacy, and accountability.”

With free agency speculation swirling around Draisaitl—whose contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026—many in Edmonton saw Friday’s announcement as a signal that his ties to the city remain deeper than ever.

“I don’t know what the future holds on the ice,” Draisaitl said candidly when asked. “But no matter what sweater I wear, Edmonton has a piece of my heart.”

It was a subtle, heartfelt reminder that even if the hockey business changes, some bonds go well beyond the boards.

According to project planners, the shelter will open its doors with priority to women, families, and Indigenous Edmontonians, many of whom are overrepresented in the city’s unhoused population. Early estimates project that the shelter will assist more than 500 people per year in regaining stable footing through its programs.

“Sometimes you just need someone to believe in you,” said Mark Goodchild, a formerly unhoused Edmontontonian who now works with Hope Mission. “Leon’s doing that for a lot of people who’ve been ignored.”

At the conclusion of the press conference, Draisaitl stepped aside from the podium and shared a quiet moment with a local shelter volunteer who embraced him with tears in her eyes. Cameras captured the moment, but Draisaitl said little more.

“Sometimes,” he later told reporters, “actions say more than words.”

For a city that has cheered his every goal and celebrated his every assist, Leon Draisaitl’s greatest legacy might not be his stats—but the warmth of 35 beds, the laughter of children playing in safety, and the quiet dignity of a man who chose to give something back.