Oilers expect Leon Draisaitl to miss rest of regular season Edmonton Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl, who has 97 points in 65 games, is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season after sustaining a lower-body injury, the team announced Tuesday. The injury occurred during a hard hit from Nashville’s Ozzy Wiesblatt in the first period of Sunday’s game, which the Oilers won. Draisaitl returned for a few shifts before exiting the game for the start of the second period. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch provided updates on the injury, stating that medical staff indicated it “shouldn’t be a really long injury.” He added, “No immediate red flags,” though he noted that the team would wait for further details. Draisaitl, 30, has 35 goals and 62 assists this season, making him one of the league’s top performers. The Oilers, currently seventh in the Western Conference, are just two points behind fourth-place Anaheim with 14 games remaining in the regular season. Draisaitl’s absence will likely impact the team’s offensive output, as he has been a key contributor to their success. Jason Dickinson is expected to step in as the second-line center while Draisaitl is sidelined. Draisaitl’s career highlights include winning the Hart Trophy as MVP in 2020 and finishing as the runner-up in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final with the Oilers. His absence will test the team’s depth, particularly in a competitive playoff race. The Associated Press contributed to this report.#edmonton_oilers #leon_draisaitl #ozzy_wiesblatt #kris_knoblauch #stanley_cup_final
