Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch has offered a timely update on Leon Draisaitl as the team prepares for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The German forward remains sidelined with a lower-body injury, but optimism is building around his return window.
Speaking with Jim Rome on his show, Knoblauch admitted there is no replacing Draisaitl’s production.
“You’re absolutely not gonna find somebody to replace him, but hopefully you get everyone stepping up their game a little bit, which has helped our game a lot,” Knoblauch said. “One of the things that we talked about throughout the season was getting a better team defensively.
“We weren’t having trouble scoring goals. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the ice for most of the game, you know, generating offense isn’t that hard. But we need to play better defensively.”
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) talks with Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) at Capital One Arena.Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
(Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
Knoblauch stressed that the team’s response without its star has been encouraging. Players have adjusted their roles, focusing more on defensive structure rather than relying only on offense.
“And when you’re missing a star player, you know, he was top five in the NHL scoring at the time, we knew that we had to limit the amount of chances we gave up,” Knoblauch said. “And guys have really stepped up, and that’s been a big reason why we’re on the streak that we are right now.”
Draisaitl suffered the injury on March 15 against Nashville and later received treatment in Germany. Reports confirmed a second-degree MCL issue, forcing him onto long-term injured reserve. Despite that setback, he remains eligible for activation around April 11, just days before the playoffs begin.
Knoblauch said the target has always been a return near the end of the regular season. The Oilers are hopeful he will be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs.
“We are hoping,” Knoblauch said. “The timeline was – end of the regular season, and hopefully, we can get him at the start of the playoffs. And we’ve still got a couple of weeks before that, but it’s – we’re certainly hoping that he’s ready.”
With a couple of weeks still available, the team is giving him time to fully recover.
At the time of injury, Draisaitl ranked among the league’s top scorers with 97 points in 65 games. His absence tested Edmonton, but the team responded with improved defensive play and a five-game winning streak.
Led by Connor McDavid, the Oilers continue to produce offensively, while recent goaltending form has added balance. The team now sits near the top of the Pacific Division standings.
If Draisaitl returns on schedule, Edmonton will enter the playoffs close to full strength, boosting its chances significantly.
Related: Avalanche Coach Shares Update on Cale Makar’s Injury
Related: Avalanche Coach Warns His Team After 8-6 Loss to Canucks
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the NHL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.