Edmonton Oilers announced on Tuesday that Leon Draisaitl will be out for the remainder of the NHL regular season due to a lower-body injury. This setback leaves the two-time defending Western Conference champions without one of the top hockey players globally as they strive to secure a playoff position.
Draisaitl is expected to sit out the remaining 14 games until April 16.
The specifics of the injury and whether Draisaitl will miss any playoff games starting on April 18-19 are currently unknown.
The injury occurred during Sunday’s game against Nashville when Draisaitl was hit hard by Ozzy Wiesblatt from the Predators in the first period, forcing him to leave the game prematurely.
Following their victory in that match, the Oilers are currently in third place in the Pacific Division, trailing Vegas by one point and Anaheim by two. However, both the Golden Knights and Ducks have an additional game to play.
Draisaitl has played a crucial role in Edmonton’s success this season, ranking fourth in league scoring with 97 points in 65 games. He is second on the team only to Connor McDavid, who leads the NHL with 114 points.
Having won the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP in 2020 and finishing as the runner-up last season, Draisaitl’s absence will be keenly felt by the Oilers. He also showcased his talent at the recent Olympics, where he was Germany’s top scorer with seven points in five games.
Draisaitl joins Toronto’s Auston Matthews as another high-profile player ruled out for the remainder of the regular season due to injury. Matthews is sidelined with a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.