Oilers lose Leon Draisaitl for rest of regular season as playoffs approach

The Edmonton Oilers’ hopes of returning to nan Stanley Cup last for nan 3rd consecutive twelvemonth were thrown into flux connected Tuesday.

The Oilers announced that Leon Draisaitl is expected to miss nan remainder of nan regular play pinch a lower-body injury. The squad said he sustained nan wounded connected Sunday successful nan first play against nan Nashville Predators.

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Edmonton Oilers halfway Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates aft scoring against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) during nan 3rd play of an NHL lucky crippled Sunday, March 8, 2026, successful Las Vegas.  (AP Photo/John Locher)

He will miss astatine slightest nan last 14 games of nan regular season, which comes to an extremity connected April 16. The squad didn’t opportunity whether he will miss clip erstwhile nan playoffs begin.

Draisaitl took a bump from Predators’ Ozzy Wiesblatt and didn’t return. Edmonton ended up winning nan crippled and sat successful 3rd spot successful nan Pacific Division, 1 constituent backmost of nan Vegas Golden Knights and 2 down nan Anaheim Ducks.

Edmonton was capable to extremity Tuesday connected a precocious statement pinch a triumph complete nan San Jose Sharks, 5-3. The triumph bumped nan Oilers to 2nd spot down Anaheim and up of Vegas. However, nan Oilers person played 1 much crippled than nan Golden Knights and 2 much games than nan Ducks.

Edmonton Oilers halfway Leon Draisaitl (29) scores against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) during nan 3rd play of an NHL lucky crippled Sunday, March 8, 2026, successful Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

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Adam Henrique assisted connected goals for Vasily Podkolzin and Max Jones. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor Murphy and Zach Hyman besides scored.

"That statement was immense for us, and we talked earlier astir needing guys stepping up," Oilers caput coach Kris Knoblauch said aft nan triumph complete nan Sharks, via NHL.com. "No one's going to switch Leon. That's ne'er going to happen. But everyone collectively needs to beryllium a small spot better. That 4th line, each 3 of them, were nan quality tonight."

Draisaitl has been a awesome contributor for nan Oilers since he joined nan team. He ranks 4th successful nan convention successful scoring pinch 97 points successful 65 games played, 2nd connected nan squad to Connor McDavid, who leads nan convention pinch 114 points.

Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) controls nan puck while nether unit from St. Louis Blues' Philip Broberg (6) during nan 3rd play of an NHL lucky crippled Friday, March 13, 2026, successful St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

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Draisaitl won nan Hart Trophy arsenic nan league’s MVP successful 2020 and was nan runner-up past season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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