Oilers Share Encouraging Update on Leon Draisaitl's Playoff Return Timeline

The Edmonton Oilers finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 41-30-11 record and 93 points. This secured third place in the Pacific Division and clinched their seventh consecutive playoff berth on April 11 after the Winnipeg Jets lost to the Philadelphia Flyers.

However, the run wasn't easy at all because after Leon Draisaitl was sidelined on March 15, the team went 8-4-1 by tightening their defense to make up for his absence.

Now, as the playoffs open, everyone has focus on his recovery. He injured his lower body on March 14 during a win against the Nashville Predators after a hit into the boards by Ozzy Wiesblatt. Draisaitl tried to play two more shifts before leaving for good.

Two days later, the team confirmed he'd miss the rest of the regular season, which left a huge gap in the Oilers' offense.

However, the good news is that the 30-year-old center is signaling toward a quick return, and head coach Kris Knoblauch offered the most specific and positive update yet on the timeline. Knoblauch made clear that the expectation, even if the exact game is still fluid, is that Draisaitl suits up at some point during the first round.

"Same plan as before, just going day by day," the 47-year-old coach said. "I anticipate him joining us sometime in the first round, whether it's Game 1, Game 4 or Game 5, whatever it is, but right now, it's just day by day."

Knoblauch isn't ruling Draisaitl in for the opener, but he's also not ruling it out. With Connor McDavid already carrying most of the offense, getting a 97-point player back at any point would change the team's outlook. Moreover, Draisaitl has always been a key factor in the playoffs, with 52 goals and 141 points in 96 career games.

Draisaitl has also spoken openly about his recovery process since returning to practice. He emphasized that he knows his body better than anyone and won't rush back if he isn't ready.

He mentioned that while he feels "pretty good" and is making progress, he is still working through the final steps required to return to full-speed action. He described his status as "one day at a time" and, like his coach, didn't give a specific date for his return.

The Oilers open their series against the Anaheim Ducks at home this Monday at 10 p.m. ET. While his Game 1 status is still up in the air, his recovery is moving in the right direction.

Related: Oilers Announce 'Emergency' Roster Move Before Stanley Cup Playoffs

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This story was originally published April 18, 2026 at 10:29 AM.