Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl Takes Brief Leave for Family Illness, Return Expected Next Week

Overview

• The team said Draisaitl traveled to Germany for a family illness and is expected to rejoin the Oilers later next week.
• Edmonton reworked its forward units, elevating Vasily Podkolzin alongside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman and moving Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to center with Kasperi Kapanen and Trent Frederic.
• Playing without Draisaitl, the Oilers beat the Canucks 6-0 on Saturday and start an eight-game homestand Sunday against the Blues.
• Coach Kris Knoblauch and captain Connor McDavid publicly backed Draisaitl’s decision, emphasizing that family comes first while the club asks for privacy.
• Draisaitl has 25 goals and 42 assists in 48 games and logs key power-play and faceoff duties, and limited LTIR space suggests replacements will come from within for now.