Oilers HC Kris Knoblauch provides encouraging injury update on Leon Draisaitl

The Edmonton Oilers are struggling to build momentum in the 2025-26 NHL season. Watching Leon Draisaitl leave a game with an injury is far from what the team needs right now. However, head coach Kris Knoblauch made sure to keep the vibes positive with his injury update.

“He went out and he just didn’t feel quite right. The fact that the medical staff said it doesn’t seem too bad and there’s no immediate red flags, it tells me that it shouldn’t be a really long injury,” Knoblauch commented on Draisaitl’s injury, per NHL.com.

Prior to his injury, Draisaitl had broken the tie with a power play goal less than four minutes into the game. Shortly after, he was hit against the boards by Predators’ Ozzy Wiesblatt. Draisaitl tried to shake it off and push through, but he couldn’t and was ruled out of the game before the start of the second period.

Draisaitl’s numbers in 2025-26 NHL season

So far, Draisaitl had appeared in 65 of the Oilers’ 68 games played in the 2025-26 campaign. The German star had taken a personal leave of absence in January, which caused him to miss three outings. Now, he could be set to miss crucial battles for Edmonton because of injury.

Through 65 games, Draisaitl has been on a tear this season. He has found the back of the net 35 times (tied for 8th in the NHL), assisted a teammate 62 times (4th in the league), and amassed a total of 97 points (4th in the NHL).

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However, after the latest setback, his chase for the 100-point mark will be put on hold. Draisaitl has scored over 100 points in six of the last seven seasons. The last time he failed to reach that mark was during the shortened 2020–21 campaign.

Silver lining for the Oilers and Draisaitl

Barring an unexpectedly long-term absence, Draisaitl should be back on the ice to help the Oilers soon, and it won’t take long for him to net the three points that separate him from another 100-point campaign. Knoblauch and company know the Oilers must step on the gas during Draisaitl’s absence, but there’s also no reason to panic—at least not yet.