It appears that the story you described about Leon Draisaitl donating his entire $35 million NHL signing bonus to combat homelessness in the U.S. is not true, and no credible news sources back it up. A search through recent articles and official statements yields no evidence supporting this claim .
In contrast, what’s actually confirmed is that Leon Draisaitl recently carried out another admirable, but unrelated, philanthropic effort:
He donated 58 sets of new hockey equipment (29 sets per season for the next two seasons) to his youth hockey club in Cologne, Germany—the “Junghaie”—through the NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams program .
This thoughtful gesture reflects his gratitude toward the community that helped launch his career, but it doesn’t involve cash donations aimed at alleviating homelessness.
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🏒 So what actually happened?
✅ Verified Philanthropic Move
What: Donation of hockey gear (58 sets total over two seasons).
Where: Junghaie youth hockey teams in Cologne, Germany.
When: During 2025‑26 and 2026‑27 seasons.
Why: As a way to give back to his hometown and support young players .
❌ What did not happen
There’s no credible report or confirmation that Draisaitl donated his $35 million signing bonus (or any part of it) to fight homelessness in the U.S.
This narrative appears to have originated from unverified social media posts—not reputable journalism outlets .
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Why this misinformation matters
Signing bonuses are usually distributed over time, especially in NHL contracts. For instance, Draisaitl’s recent agreement includes a structured payout:
> “$15.5‑million in bonus in each of the first three years, $13‑million the fourth year and smaller bonuses thereafter” .
Claims of massive, one‑time donations like $35 million would be highly newsworthy—but no reliable outlet has reported on such an act from Draisaitl.
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Final Word
While Leon Draisaitl’s contributions to youth hockey in Germany are legitimately inspiring, the story of him giving away his entire signing bonus to combat homelessness in America is false. It’s always a good idea to check reputable hockey news sources (like NHL.com, Sportsnet, TSN) before spreading such assertions.
If you’re interested, I can share more about his support for youth programs in Cologne—or verify other claims about NHL player philanthropy. Just let me know!