Will Draisaitl play in Edmonton Oilers playoff opener?
It appears Leon Draisaitl will be ready in time to play in Game 1 between the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks on Monday night.
After missing the last 14 games of the regular season with an undisclosed lower-body injury, Draisaitl is expected to make a return to the lineup for the Oilers’ playoff opener. This comes after weeks of speculation, although he has been skating with the team in practice for the last week or so.
Draisaitl’s return has not yet been confirmed by the Oilers, but Sports 1440’s Jason Gregor took to social media to report that the German superstar is expected to draw back into action for Game 1.
“Draisaitl is ready to go,” Gregor shared on X. “Not on ice for optional. He was out for the optional the past few games when he didn’t play.
“Knoblauch wouldn’t confirm if he will play, but source tells me [to] expect him to play tonight.”
Draisaitl is ready to go. Not on ice for optional. He was out for the optional the past few games when he didn’t play.
Knoblauch wouldn’t confirm if he will play, but source tells me expect him to play tonight.
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) April 20, 2026
It’s true that the Oilers have not given a concrete answer on Draisaitl’s status. The running narrative being given to the media from head coach Kris Knoblauch has been that Draisaitl will return at some point in the first round, but hasn’t specified exactly where in the series.
He continued that narrative on Monday morning, giving a vague answer when asked about his star player’s Game 1 status.
“No updates. As we’ve said before, we expect him sometime during this first round,” Knoblauch said. “You’ll have to wait and find out what our lineup looks like tonight.”
Draisaitl is expected to be back in his usual spot on the second line next to Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen. That is a trio that has had a lot of success playing together earlier in the season.
Questions are still swirling around Jason Dickinson as well, who has missed the last three regular-season games with a leg injury. The 30-year-old centreman participated in line rushes during Sunday’s practice, pivoting the third line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Roslovic, but Knoblauch once again refused to give a clear answer.
According to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, it appears that Dickinson could also be in the Game 1 lineup as well.
“Lazar and Samanski skating hard at the end of optional, so looks like Dickinson is in,” Rishaug reported. “Oilers with a full healthy lineup for the first time this season, barring a late change.”
Lazar and Samanski skating hard at the end of optional so looks like Dickinson is in. Oilers with a full healthy lineup for the first time this season barring a late change. https://t.co/BZv7OmmHIl
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) April 20, 2026
It appears to be the best-case scenario for this Oilers club, as everyone is getting healthy in time for the postseason. It will be all for naught, however, if they can’t get the job done on the ice.
The puck drops on the Oilers’ 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs run at 8 p.m. MDT.