The Edmonton Oilers closed out the regular season with a dominant 6-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, setting the stage for a first-round playoff showdown against the Anaheim Ducks.
With the postseason approaching, much of the focus has shifted to the health of Leon Draisaitl, and captain Connor McDavid offered an encouraging update in that department.
Leon Draisaitl’s Comeback Status Revealed
Draisaitl has been sidelined with a lower-body injury suffered in mid-March during a game against the Nashville Predators. The injury occurred in the first period after a hit along the boards from forward Ozzy Wiesblatt. Although he briefly returned for a few shifts, he was unable to continue and went on to miss the final stretch of the regular season.
This week, however, Draisaitl returned to practice, a major step forward for Edmonton.
McDavid praised both the star forward’s determination and the work of the team’s medical staff. “I keep saying how good our staff is, and it’s the time of year where health and injuries play a big factor, and our guys do an amazing job making guys available. But it’s also a credit to Leon for wanting to be there, wanting to be a difference maker, and he will be, he looks great,” McDavid said.
“He looks amazing. He looks really, really, really strong,” were McDavid’s words on his superstar teammate.
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug struck a similar tone, reporting on Draisaitl’s much-awaited comeback, saying, “We walked into the building at 9:15 this morning. He was on the ice, ready to do some testing. He did that testing, he took a short break. Then he came back out with the rest of the team and took part in the optional skate.
“He was out there a good, solid 40 minutes with that group. Then he stayed out even longer, working with the skills coach, working on his one-timer. He did 10-15 of his signature shots from five different locations. He’s grinding hard.”
The comments suggest Draisaitl is trending in the right direction for Round 1, though his availability for Game 1 remains uncertain. Even so, the possibility of his return provides a significant boost for Edmonton heading into the series.
A Challenging Road to the Playoffs
The Oilers’ journey to the postseason was far from smooth. Edmonton finished the 2025-26 campaign with a 41-30-11 record, collecting 93 points to secure second place in the Pacific Division. The season featured early goaltending concerns, defensive inconsistencies, and injuries.
McDavid acknowledged the ups and downs, emphasizing that the team had to battle just to secure its playoff position. “We’ve worked hard to put ourselves in this spot. With Leon going out, it was a question if we’d even be in the playoff. We’ve had numerous guys step up and and dig in. And to have home ice is important too. This first round is always chaotic,” McDavid said.
ALSO READ: Oilers Trade Rumors: 2 Goalkeeping Upgrades Linked in Crucial Year For Connor McDavid
Coming off a strong finish to the regular season and with the possibility of Leon Draisaitl returning, the Edmonton Oilers head into the playoffs with renewed confidence. Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks is scheduled for Monday, April 20. And although the final lineup decision has not been made, Edmonton looks close to getting one of its key players back.
