NHL Injury News: Oilers Reveal Length Of Leon Draisaitl's Injury

Friday, April 04, 2025

The Edmonton Oilers provided a promising update on Leon Draisaitl after the star forward left Thursday’s 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks with a lower-body injury. 

Head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed Friday that Draisaitl will be out “short term” and is expected to return well before the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19. “We’re not too concerned, especially with Leon’s pain tolerance and things that he’s played through before,” Knoblauch said. 

Draisaitl, the NHL’s leading goal scorer with 52 tallies in 71 games, exited midway through the second period after a hit from Barclay Goodrow and did not return.

Knoblauch clarified that this injury is new and unrelated to the issue that kept Draisaitl out of the lineup for four games in late March. 

Though he won’t play Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings and is unlikely for Monday’s game in Anaheim, Knoblauch sounded confident about the timeline. “He will be missing some time,” he said, “but we think it’s going to be back well before [the playoffs].” 

Sportsnet’s Mark Spector added that Draisaitl walked out of the rink without a visible limp, offering further reassurance about his status.

The Oilers are working through a stretch without several key players, including Connor McDavid (lower body), Mattias Ekholm, and goaltender Stuart Skinner. 

Despite the injuries, Edmonton has won three straight and is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games. The team remains two points behind Los Angeles for second place in the Pacific Division. 

With Draisaitl out, recent trade acquisition Trent Frederic—who practiced Friday with Adam Henrique and Zach Hyman—could make his Oilers debut on Saturday if medically cleared.

Photo Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

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