The Edmonton Oilers will be without a key piece of their offensive engine for the next stretch of games, as Leon Draisaitl takes a leave of absence to attend to a family illness in Germany. The team has asked for privacy on his behalf and expects Draisaitl to rejoin the club sometime next week.
Draisaitl, 30, has been a fixture in the lineup all season, suiting up for all 48 games and producing at an elite clip-25 goals and 67 points, good for a 1.4 points-per-game pace. That’s notably above his already impressive career average of 1.22, and it speaks to how dialed in he’s been during this campaign. Whether it’s been on the power play, off the rush, or setting up shop in the offensive zone, Draisaitl has continued to be one of the league’s most reliable and dangerous producers.
Lately, he’s been anchoring the Oilers’ second line, finding strong chemistry with wingers Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin. Over the last six games, that trio has outscored opponents 7-3 during five-on-five play across 73 minutes of ice time-an encouraging stretch that had given Edmonton some real depth scoring behind their top unit.
With Draisaitl stepping away, the Oilers have shuffled their lines. According to Bob Stauffer, Podkolzin has been promoted to the top line, skating alongside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman.
That’s a big opportunity for the young winger to show he can keep pace with two of the team’s most dynamic forwards. Meanwhile, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins slides into Draisaitl’s spot at center on the second line, flanked by Trent Frederic and Kasperi Kapanen.
Edmonton’s third line-Jack Roslovic, Isaac Howard, and Matt Savoie-remains unchanged, while the fourth line will feature Curtis Lazar, Andrew Mangiapane, and Mattias Janmark.
The Oilers are heading into a busy stretch, starting with a tough back-to-back this weekend. They’re in Vancouver Saturday night to face the Canucks, then return home Sunday to host the St.
Louis Blues. That game will carry some extra weight, as the team is set to honor Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for reaching the 1,000-game milestone-an impressive achievement for one of the franchise’s longest-tenured and most consistent players.
Sunday’s game also kicks off a lengthy eight-game homestand for Edmonton. The Oilers will welcome the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, followed by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. After that, they’ll close out January with home games against the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Minnesota Wild.
Looking ahead to early February, the Oilers will host the Toronto Maple Leafs on the 3rd before heading down the road to face the Calgary Flames on the 4th. Then comes a lengthy pause in the NHL calendar as players head to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Draisaitl is expected to represent Germany on the Olympic stage, joined by fellow countryman and Oilers prospect Josh Samanski. Connor McDavid will suit up for Team Canada, adding another chapter to his growing international legacy.
The Oilers return to NHL action on February 25th with a California road swing-three games in four nights against the Ducks, Kings, and Sharks. By then, they’ll be hoping Draisaitl is back in the fold and ready to help power the team through the stretch run.
For now, all thoughts are with Draisaitl and his family. On the ice, the Oilers will look to rally in his absence and keep building momentum in what’s shaping up to be a pivotal season.