Draisaitl expected to miss rest of regular season with lower-body injury
Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a lower-body injury, the team announced Tuesday.
Draisaitl sustained the injury Sunday in Edmonton's 3-1 win against the Nashville Predators on a first-period hit by Ozzy Wiesblatt.
Leon Draisaitl appeared to be injured after taking a hard hit early in the first period from Ozzy Wiesblatt.
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 16, 2026
Draisaitl was not on the bench to start the second, and didn't play the rest of the game. Kris Knoblauch had no update on his status after the game. pic.twitter.com/PaLTn6wKxa
Draisaitl has 35 goals and 97 points in 65 games this season. He's fourth in the NHL in scoring and tied for eighth in goals.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said Monday that the team would take a cautious approach with Draisaitl's injury.
"We don't want to aggravate it and make it worse," he said, according to NHL.com. "Obviously, we're looking at the big picture, but the games are important. There's nothing for sure right now making the playoffs, and we need to win hockey games, but obviously if he's not healthy to play, he's not going to play."
Edmonton is 7-6-1 without Draisaitl over the last two seasons, according to Sportsnet's Jack Michaels.
The Oilers are third in the Pacific Division with a 33-26-9 record and two points behind the Anaheim Ducks for first. Edmonton has 14 games left in the regular season.