Photo credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl is set to miss tonight’s game against the Vancouver Canucks after the club announced he’s left temporarily for personal reasons.
For the Vancouver Canucks, it appears that they’ve made some changes to their lineup for tonight’s clash, more on that later, but it looks like the Edmonton Oilers will be without star forward Leon Draisaitl for the next little while.
Leon Draisaitl out vs Vancouver Canucks, returns to Germany for personal reasons
“Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl will be taking a brief leave of absence to attend to a family illness in Germany. He is expected to return to the team later next week.
On behalf of Leon, the club asks for privacy at this time.” the Oilers said.
Draisaitl, a native of Cologne, Germany, is on pace for his fifth consecutive and seventh 100-point campaign of his NHL career, with 67 points (25 goals, 42 assists) under his belt in 48 games this season, good for fifth in the league behind Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini and Nikita Kucherov.
With Draisaitl out of the lineup tonight, and likely for the next two-to-three games as well, the Edmonton Oilers have moved Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the second line center role for his 999th career game.
Vancouver Canucks make lineup changes vs Edmonton Oilers
As mentioned, the Vancouver Canucks are making some lineup changes of their own tonight, with Liam Ohgren and Brock Boeser coming up to the top line to play with Elias Pettersson, while Evander Kane has been inserted back into the top-six and will be on the second trio with David Kampf and Jake DeBrusk.
Drew O’Connor, Aatu Raty and Conor Garland will make up the team’s third line this evening, with Linus Karlsson going from the first to the fourth line where he’ll be playing alongside Arshdeep Bains and Max Sasson.
Adam Foote has decided to stick with the same defensive pairings that he used during Thursday’s loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, while Nikita Tolopilo is set to get the start in net as Kevin Lankinen is under the weather, although he’ll still serve as the team’s backup against Edmonton.
“Morning skate #HockeyDay #Canucks lines
Öhgren. EP40. Boeser.
DeBrusk. Kämpf. Kane.
O’Connor. Räty. Garland.
Bains. Sasson. Karlsson.
MP29. Hronek.
Buium. Myers.
Willander. Mancini.
Extras: Joseph, Chytil, Höglander, Blueger
Sherwood is absent.” Brendan Batchelor shared on X.
Everyone here at Vancouver Hockey Daily sends their best wishes to Leon Draisaitl and his family at this time.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
POLL
28 MINUTES AGOÂ Â Â |Â Â Â 16 ANSWERS
Leon Draisaitl suddenly leaves the Edmonton Oilers for personal reasons before facing the Vancouver Canucks
Will the Vancouver Canucks snap their nine-game losing streak tonight against the Edmonton Oilers?