The Edmonton Oilers are in a strong spot as the regular season winds down, sitting atop the Pacific Division with 90 points and coming off a convincing 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.
But despite the positive results, the team continues to navigate a growing list of injuries, with the biggest concern surrounding star forward Leon Draisaitl.
Oilers GM Provides Update on Draisaitl
Draisaitl suffered a lower-body injury on March 15 during a 3-1 victory against the Nashville Predators after taking a heavy hit from forward Ozzy Wiesblatt early in the first period. He briefly returned for two shifts but was unable to continue, and was later diagnosed with a second degree MCL injury.
To aid his recovery, Draisaitl traveled to Munich for treatment with renowned sports physician Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, who has previously worked with elite athletes, including Auston Matthews.
Initial projections suggested Draisaitl would return for the playoffs, though the exact timing, whether Game 1 or later, remains uncertain. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman offered the latest update, noting the forward is progressing well and could rejoin the team soon.
“As far as Leon goes, I think we’ll get a better feel for where he is at when he is skating out with the team which, hopefully, when he gets back to Edmonton early next week. But he is progressing well. Like I said from the beginning, there is nothing that has changed from our original prognosis. We’re expecting him back at the beginning of the playoffs,” Bowman said.
Bowman emphasized there have been no setbacks and that the star forward continues to improve. He also shared that Zach Hyman is doing well and is expected to return for the postseason, providing further optimism amid the injury concerns.
McDavid Steps Up as Oilers’ Trigger Man
In Draisaitl’s absence, Connor McDavid has taken on a more aggressive scoring role. The Oilers captain delivered a dominant performance on Wednesday, recording a hat trick and five points.
After the win, McDavid acknowledged the shift in his approach, explaining, “When you don’t have Leon, someone has to be the trigger man,” McDavid said. “Obviously, he’s a special goal scorer, and everybody is always looking for him.”
He admitted there has been a conscious effort to shoot more, attack the offensive zone with greater urgency, and be more assertive on the power play, while also emphasizing how much the team misses Draisaitl.
McDavid’s production speaks for itself. He currently leads the league with 133 points, and his surge has helped Edmonton post a 6-1-1 record over its last eight games.
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For now, the Oilers will look to maintain momentum as they prepare to face the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, hoping their depth can carry them until Draisaitl returns.
