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Edmonton Oilers give good-news updates on McDavid and Draisaitl injuries

Preston Hodgkinson
Preston Hodgkinson
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Mar 26 2025, 7:48 pm
Edmonton Oilers give good-news updates on McDavid and Draisaitl injuries
Nick Wosika/Imagn Images

The Edmonton Oilers will not have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the lineup tonight, but we have a better idea of when they will return.

Both superstars suffered injuries in back-to-back games last week and are now expected to miss at least a couple more games. However, the Oilers did get some good news this morning as Draisaitl was back on the ice skating with the team ahead of tonight’s game against the Dallas Stars.

Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed with reporters after the skate that Draisaitl is still not ready to play, but he also gave some better return timelines for both players.

“Leon will be back sooner than Connor, but we’re looking at a week, maybe shorter for Leon, and Connor will be longer than that,” Knoblauch said.

That update makes it likely that Drasaitl and McDavid will miss at least two more games, with the team set to travel West in the second half of a back-to-back against the Seattle Kraken tomorrow.

It does open up the possibility that Draisaitl could make his return to the lineup as early as this Saturday when the Calgary Flames are in town. McDavid will probably have to wait until sometime next week to get a better idea of his expected return.

The German power-forward is sitting at 49 goals on the year and is on the precipice of his fourth 50-goal campaign. Draisaitl is also chasing Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon for the NHL lead in points.

Until then, the Oilers will once again roll out a heavily modified roster for tonight’s tilt against the Stars. 880 CHED’s Bob Stauffer had the lines from this morning’s skate.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will look to continue his hot streak as the Oilers top-line centre tonight. The Nuge has nine points in his last three games with Vasily Podkolzin and Viktor Arvidsson on his flanks.

On the second line, Adam Henrique will take over Draisaitl’s usual spot at centre with Zach Hyman and Kasperi Kapanen. On the blueline, Knoblauch will once again go with Troy Stecher with Ty Emberson looking like a healthy scratch for the fourth straight game.

Stuart Skinner will get the nod between the pipes after having stopped 21 of the 25 shots he faced last time he played the Stars in a 5-4 victory earlier this month.

Puck drop is set for 8 pm MDT.

 

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