There was some good news for the Edmonton Oilers at their morning skate on April 13. Injured forward Leon Draisaitl was out on the ice at practice and according to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, he looked to be skating fairly well.
After practice, Draisaitl mentioned to reporters, “All in all I feel pretty good. And it’s one day at a time.” When asked if he would be ready for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Draisaitl sounded somewhat optimistic when he said, “We’ll see.”
Oilers Need Draisaitl if They Hope to Go Far in 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Draisaitl, who was injured in the March 15 game against the Nashville Predators, is key to the Oilers’ hopes of reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the third year in a row. Even if he’s not 100% healthy, Draisaitl has proven in past playoff series that he can be effective.
He was injured in Game 6 of the 2022 first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings and still went on to be a factor for the Oilers that spring despite a high-ankle sprain. Draisaitl finished second overall in playoff scoring despite the fact that the Oilers lost in the Western Conference Final to the Colorado Avalanche.
Draisaitl Part of a Crowded Group of Injured Oilers
The Oilers have been holding their own in the NHL’s Pacific Division despite losing key players to injury since Draisaitl went out. Zach Hyman, Jason Dickinson, and Max Jones are currently all out of the lineup and it’s looking positive that Hyman and possibly Dickinson could be back by the first game of the playoffs. According to Sportsnet, Jones could be gone until May 8 with a lower-body injury.
Oilers Power Play Not So Lethal Without Leon
The Oilers are leading the league in power play efficiency this season at 30.6%, however, they have missed Draisaitl’s presence. During his absence, they went almost 10 games without scoring on the power play.
The Oilers have missed having Draisaitl down in his lower post area and Hyman in front of the net. Having the two former 50-goal scorers out of the lineup has hurt the Oilers as they’ve come down the stretch. It’s been especially noticeable on the power play and might’ve cost the Oilers a chance to win the Pacific title.
Draisaitl Remains in the Top 10 in NHL Scoring
Despite being out for a month, Draisaitl remains in the top 10 in scoring in the NHL. As of April 13, he has 35 goals and 97 points, good enough for ninth place in NHL scoring. When Draisaitl is healthy enough to return to the Oilers lineup, you can expect him to be among the points leaders in the playoffs.
Since the 2021-22 playoffs, Draisaitl has finished in the top 10 in scoring in every one, and was tied for first overall in playoff points with teammate Connor McDavid last season with 33 points.
A Healthy Draisaitl Increases the Oilers Chances of Winning the Stanley Cup in 2026
The Oilers clinched a playoff spot for the seventh consecutive season thanks to the Winnipeg Jets losing 7-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers on April 11. Even though they look to finish in the middle of the pack in the NHL’s Western Conference, you can’t count Edmonton out in terms of making it back to the Stanley Cup Final. But they won’t be able to do it without Draisaitl.
Related: Draisaitl’s Injury Has Been a Blessing in Disguise for the Oilers
Despite key players on the Oilers, such as Matt Savoie and Jack Roslovic, stepping up on the power play in Draisaitl’s absence, the team has missed his leadership and scoring touch since his injury. A healthy Draisaitl, even if he’s not at 100%, greatly increases the odds of the Oilers winning their first Stanley Cup since 1990.
