Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl leaves game against Sharks with apparent injury

Apr 4, 2025, 08:56 EDT

Credit: May 10, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (29) during a stop in play against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period in game two of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

Edmonton Oilers superstar center Leon Draisaitl exited midway through the second period and did not return Thursday versus the Pacific Division rival San Jose Sharks after suffering an undisclosed injury.

Following the 3-2 road win, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters that he did not have an update on Draisaitl’s status but noted that more information would come Friday.

In all, Thursday’s contest marked just the third game for Draisaitl since his return to the lineup following a four-game absence through late March due to an undisclosed injury. Of note, the Oilers also remain without captain Connor McDavid who has been sidelined for the past six games due to a lower-body ailment.

On the season, Draisaitl has made 71 appearances with the Oilers in which he has collected a league-leading 52 goals with 54 assists for 106 points. League wide, Draisaitl sits third in the Art Ross Trophy race behind only Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning. In all, the 2024-25 campaign marks the sixth time that the 29-year-old German-born forward has reached triple-digit production.

The third-overall selection from the 2014 NHL Draft, Draisaitl has spent part of 11 seasons with Edmonton counting 790 career contests in which he has recorded 399 goals and 557 assists for 956 points, putting him fifth all-time in franchise scoring. In 2022-23, Draisaitl reached a career-high 128 points coming in 80 games, while in 2019-20 he was presented with the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP after putting up 43 goals and 67 assists for 110 points in 71 outings.

Draisaitl’s productivity has also carried through to the postseason where through 74 games he has notched 108 points including 10 goals and 21 assists through 25 appearances last spring en route to the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Final.

Following their victory over the Sharks, the Oilers improved to 44-26-5 on the season to sit third place in the Pacific Division with 93 points.