Oilers' Draisaitl expected to return from injury 'well before' playoffs

Dan Greenspan · The Associated Press

· Posted: Apr 05, 2025 10:50 AM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

Edmonton Oilers centre Leon Draisaitl is "out abbreviated term" but should instrumentality "well before" the playoffs statesman aft sustaining a lower-body wounded against the San Jose Sharks Thursday, says caput manager Kris Knoblauch.

Draisaitl, who leads the NHL with 52 goals this season, didn't signifier Friday and won't play against the Los Angeles Kings connected Saturday. He missed the 2nd fractional of the 2nd play and each of the 3rd play successful a 3-2 triumph implicit the Sharks.

Knoblauch said Friday that he expects Draisaitl backmost earlier the postseason begins connected April 19, wherever the Oilers are apt to look the Kings successful the archetypal circular of the playoffs for the 4th consecutive year.

"We deliberation [he's] going to beryllium backmost good earlier that, truthful we're not excessively concerned, particularly with Leon's symptom tolerance and things that he's played done before, but helium volition beryllium missing immoderate time," Knoblauch said.

Draisaitl missed 4 games successful precocious March due to the fact that of an undisclosed injury. Knoblauch said this caller ailment is unrelated.

Draisaitl was connected gait to acceptable a caller career-high successful scoring aft reaching the 50-goal people for the 3rd clip successful 4 seasons, and his 106 points is 3rd successful the league.

The one-two punch of Draisaitl and chap superstar centre Connor McDavid powered the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final past year, but Edmonton is presently without some players arsenic they effort to pursuit down the Kings for 2nd spot successful the Pacific Division and home-ice vantage for the archetypal round.

McDavid has not played since sustaining a lower-body wounded successful a collision with Winnipeg defenceman Josh Morrissey connected March 20.

In spite of those absences, Edmonton has won 3 consecutive and is 7-2-1 successful its past 10 games.

"It's impressive," guardant Trent Frederic said. "Even past night, it's a large triumph there… No, the team's looked unreal."

Frederic was acquired from the Boston Bruins successful a three-team commercialized connected March 4 but has yet to play for the Oilers due to the fact that of an ankle injury. He took portion successful signifier Friday and could marque his Edmonton debut connected Saturday.