The Edmonton Oilers got the last thing they needed on Sunday night. The team must now deal with a Leon Draisaitl injury, sustained in the game against the Nashville Predators.
Draisaitl left the game in the first period after colliding with the Predator’s forward Ozzy Weisblatt. The collision left Draisaitl shaken up, eventually heading down the tunnel and out of the game.
At least 3-4 Oilers players have gone after Wiesblatt for what appears to be a legal hit.
There is no word yet on the injury itself or the extent of it. By the looks of it, it would appear to be an upper-body issue, potentially something around the ribs or shoulder.
Losing Draisaitl was a major blow to the club, no question about it. The Oilers won 3-1 in a hard-fought game, but moving forward, the prospect of losing the German star looms large.
The Oilers will likely offer more clarity on the Draisaitl injury moving forward. In the meantime, it’s unclear whether he’ll miss any time.
It’s worth pointing out that teams often remove players strictly out of precautionary measures. This might be one of those cases. Given what’s at stake this season, the Oilers will tread lightly with this Draisaitl injury.
Connor McDavid picked up the slack, notching three assists on the night. Matthew Savioe and Zach Hyman added the other goals for the Oilers.
Edmonton will be looking to lock up at least the third spot in the Pacific Division and ensure its pass to the 2026 Stanley Cup.
Prolonged Draisaitl Injury Could Be Disastrous for Oilers
Hockey fans have already seen one major star go down at this late juncture in the season. Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews sustained a season-ending knee injury last Thursday in a game against the Anaheim Ducks.
While this Draisaitl injury hardly seems in a similar vein, the situation may lead down a similar path. That’s why a prolonged absence by Draisaitl could be disastrous for the Oilers. Missing Draisaitl could significantly hamper the club’s chances of securing one of the top three seeds in the Pacific.
In Draisaitl’s absence, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins may have to jump back into a center spot. He’s currently playing on the wing with newcomer Jason Dickinson and Jack Roslovic. If the Oilers did not move Nugent-Hopkins to a center spot, Dickinson may move up the lineup with veteran Adam Henrique potentially moving into the 4C role.
Oilers Still Have Time for Draisaitl to Heal
If the Draisaitl injury required time off, the Oilers still have time for their star to heal. There are about five weeks left in the season. As such, the club has sufficient runway to deal with an injury of this nature.
That’s why, if there’s a silver lining to this situation, the injury occurring now isn’t the worst thing in the world.
It’s also worth pointing out that, despite a playoff spot being far from secure, the Oilers would be much keener on having Draisaitl ready for the playoffs. As a result, the Draisaitl injury didn’t necessarily happen at the worst possible time.
It remains unclear how serious the situation could be. In the meantime, the hope is that the Oilers’ star will be fine.
Draisaitl Injury: The Last Thing Oilers Needed