The Edmonton Oilers fell 4-3 to the Dallas Stars in their second game without both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Despite a strong push in the third period, Kris Knoblauch’s squad couldn’t complete the comeback from a 4-0 deficit at Rogers Place. With the Stanley Cup Playoffs looming on the NHL horizon, the Oilers are eager to get their star players back, and Knoblauch provided a crucial update on their injuries.
The most common nightmare among Edmonton’s inhabitants has become reality during the Oilers’ recent outings in the 2024-25 NHL season. The dreaded scenario of being without McDavid or Draisaitl has materialized, leaving fans in a state of unease as they quiver with the sight of both superstars absent from the ice.
Edmonton’s Stanley Cup aspirations can only go so far without one of their superstars, nevermind both of them, and there isn’t a single mind in the locker room or organization unaware of that reality.
However, perhaps it’s all part of a bigger lesson—a chance for the Oilers to discover themselves and uncover new dimensions to their game, even without their captain and alternate skipper. Still, no one would hesitate to skip that lesson in favor of watching McDavid and Draisaitl back on the ice, steering Edmonton toward the postseason.
Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period of the game at the Wells Fargo Center on February 22, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Fortunately for the Oilers, their return could be imminent. Head coach Knoblauch delivered an update that will have fans rejoicing, though not fully.
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“Leon will be back sooner than Connor. We are looking at a week or maybe shorter than that for Leon,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch stated, via Sportsnet’s Gene Principe. “Connor will be longer than that.”
Reasonable return games for Draisaitl and McDavid
If Knoblauch’s update on Draisaitl—who sustained an undisclosed injury during the March 18 matchup against the Utah Hockey Club—proves accurate, the German superstar could make his return during Edmonton’s upcoming road trip along the American West Coast.
Most likely, Draisaitl will rejoin the lineup either against the Vegas Golden Knights on April 1 or during the clash with the San Jose Sharks on April 3.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch of the Edmonton Oilers takes part in practice during the off day between games against the Florida Panthers in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 12, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
McDavid’s vague update
Based on the coach’s comments, Draisaitl appears closer to a full recovery than McDavid, whose timeline remains far more uncertain. The Oilers’ captain suffered a lower-body injury against the Winnipeg Jets on March 20, and his return to the lineup may not come until after the team returns to Edmonton from their road trip below the 47th parallel.
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While Knoblauch’s statement did not explicitly suggest McDavid could be sidelined until the playoffs, that possibility cannot be ruled out, yet.
