Injury Notes: Draisaitl, Hoglander, Rondbjerg

There’s still no status update on Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, who left early in Sunday’s action against the Predators, playing just 3:12. Late last night head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters, including Jason Gregor of Sports 1440, that “I don’t think it should be long. There might be some time off”. 

Draisaitl scored a power play tally just minutes into the game, marking his 30th goal against Nashville across his career, the most against any team he’s played. It’s particularly noteworthy because he’s done so in just 32 games. However, not long after, he took a hit into the opponent’s bench. Staying on his feet, there was still a blow to the lower back area. 

The superstar played briefly after, but then was pulled and didn’t return. There was never an official announcement from the team that he’d been ruled out, but as the game wore on, it became only more evident.

It would take a late season collapse for Edmonton to miss the playoffs, but with a goaltending situation as fragile as ever, and a vital player banged up, there’s cause for concern. Draisaitl currently sits fourth in the entire league with 97 points in 65 games, and if he has to miss multiple games, divisional foes Seattle and San Jose may make them uncomfortable in the final stretch of the campaign. 

The Oilers are a tale of two extremes, surrendering 232 goals which has them right among the worst in the league, but simultaneously sitting second in ones forced with 238. As a result they’ve ended up perfectly in the middle of the league, 16th, and third in the Pacific.

Edmonton hosts a possible playoff-snatcher in San Jose tomorrow night. Apparently set to do so without Draisaitl, they must shore things up defensively. Giving up 3.4 goals per game, simply out-scoring their issues will be much more difficult. It’s a feeling not foreign to the Oilers throughout the Connor McDavid/Draisaitl era, but at some point, something has to give if they’ll make a third straight run and finally get over the hump. 

Elsewhere across the league:

• Canucks head coach Adam Foote shared news to reporters, including Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province/Sun, that Nils Höglander will return tomorrow against Florida. The forward had missed the club’s last two games as a scratch, although injuries have also been a factor. 2025-26 has been a year to forget for the 25-year-old, who suffered a lower-body injury in the preseason, unable to play until December. Ever since then he’s hardly moved the needle with just three points in 25 games, and averaging the lowest ice time of his career. Höglander still has solid possession metrics, indicating he remains useful at even strength. A 24-goal scorer two years ago, the 5’9” winger will try to finish the season on a strong note. He has security, holding a contract which is signed through 2027-28, and could turn things around in a lower pressure environment across the coming years. 
• Another update came earlier today, this time from Vegas as Jonas Røndbjerg has resumed skating, relayed by the Review Journal’s Danny Webster. The 26-year-old is not the most recognizable name, but unfortunately his lower-body injury sustained in early February cost him a chance to play on Team Denmark at the Olympics. It’s worth mentioning that it was caused by Anaheim’s Radko Gudas, a player who has been in the headlines of late for his questionable play. Nonetheless, Røndbjerg has skated in just four games for Vegas in 2025-26, notching an assist. He was part of Vegas’ inaugural 2017 draft class, chosen in the third round, since then becoming a key player for AHL Henderson over the years. Røndbjerg has chipped in 11 points across 80 total games for the Golden Knights as a fill-in option with limited usage.