Leon Draisaitl Returns From Injury
A familiar face will return for the ‘Battle of Alberta’ tonight. According to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, the Edmonton Oilers will welcome back superstar Leon Draisaitl after he missed he last four games with an undisclosed injury.
His presence in the Oilers’ lineup can’t be understated. Draisaitl is having an MVP-caliber season, leading Edmonton in scoring with 49 goals and 101 points in 68 games. Most notably, Draisaitl leads the entire NHL in goals, even strength goals (34), and game-winning goals (10).
The team has faced challenges without him and his teammate, Connor McDavid. The Oilers own a 1-2-1 record in the four games without the duo, averaging 3.00 GF/G while allowing a ghastly 4.50 GA/G to their opponents. Edmonton is battling with the Los Angeles Kings in the standings for the second spot in the Pacific Division, and they’ll want to avoid hobbling into the playoffs due to injuries.
Oilers Recall Olivier Rodrigue
The Oilers have recalled goaltender prospect Olivier Rodrigue from AHL Bakersfield, per a team announcement. He comes up to serve as Calvin Pickard‘s backup for the time being after starter Stuart Skinner left last night’s loss to the Stars in the third period after taking Dallas winger Mikko Rantanen‘s knee to the head inadvertently. To keep themselves cap-compliant, Edmonton sent center Derek Ryan to AHL Bakersfield in a corresponding move.
Rodrigue, 24, was a second-round pick by Edmonton (No. 62 overall) back in 2018. Rodrigue was the second goalie off the board that year after the Rangers selected Olof Lindbom with the No. 39 pick, but neither he nor Lindbom have seen NHL ice. Multiple goalies selected after them – Justus Annunen (No. 64), Lukáš Dostál (No. 85), Joel Hofer (No. 107), and Samuel Ersson (No. 143) are now full-time NHLers. He’s a 6’1″, left-catching netminder who’s largely done well in the minors, but not this year. He’s posted a 3.05 GAA, .899 SV%, one shutout, and an 18-15-7 record in 40 games with Bakersfield.
That regression comes after Rodrigue, firmly the No. 3 option on the Oilers’ depth chart ahead of struggling veteran Collin Delia, had posted save percentages of .912 and .916 with the Condors in 2022-23 and 2023-24. As a result, he earned a $125K AHL salary with a $150K guarantee on the two-way extension he signed with Edmonton last March.
While still an intriguing long-term option, Rodrigue’s underwhelming AHL showing doesn’t make him a promising insurance policy in Skinner’s absence. The latter has now left two of his last three starts following head contact, and he’s presumably entered concussion protocol as a result. He’s started 12 of 16 games coming out of the 4 Nations break, but it’s now Pickard’s crease for the next few games, at least.
Of course, neither goaltender has put together a compelling performance in 2024-25. Skinner has a 2.91 GAA and .894 SV% through 49 appearances, allowing 8.9 goals above average based on the league-average save percentage this season. Pickard’s numbers of 2.61 and .901 through 28 appearances look much better at first glance, but MoneyPuck data shows he’s actually been worse than Skinner compared to the quality of defense in front of him. The Oilers are allowing 2.83 expected goals per game in front of Skinner while allowing just 2.36 in front of Pickard. Neither goalie has given them above-average play, but Skinner’s -3.9 goals saved above expected are a better option than Pickard’s -6.0.
Skinner’s injury leaves them in a significant bind if he’ll miss extended time heading into the postseason, especially after the Oilers failed to address their goaltending issues at the trade deadline. They’ve fallen behind the Kings and now rank third in the Pacific Division with a 41-25-5 record, setting themselves up to start the postseason on the road. MoneyPuck only gives them a 14.9% chance of climbing back into second place, a figure that likely drops a marginal amount without Skinner available.
As for Ryan, he was recalled just last week for his first stint on the NHL roster since January. The 38-year-old center appeared in Edmonton’s last two games, recording a hit and shot on goal while going 10-for-15 on faceoffs. With stars Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid sidelined for the short term, they’re already short on forwards, so they’ll likely need to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen out of necessity tonight against the Kraken.
McDavid Behind Draisaitl In Recovery, Frederic Might Not Skate For A While Yet
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch provided injury updates to several reporters, including TSN’s Ryan Rishaug (Twitter link). While centers Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid were ruled out for the week recently, Knoblauch clarified that Draisaitl will be the first one to come back, likely after this week ends or soon after; that suggests McDavid could miss a bit more time beyond that. Meanwhile, newcomer Trent Frederic could still be multiple weeks away from skating with the team, calling into question if he’ll be able to get into game action before the end of the regular season. Edmonton recently slipped into third place in the Pacific Division and they’ll have to find a way to at least stay close to getting that spot back while waiting for their two top players to return.
Oilers’ Connor McDavid And Leon Draisaitl To Miss More Time
Edmonton Oilers’ superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will not play this week, meaning they’ll miss an additional three games with injury, per team reporter Tony Brar.
McDavid suffered a lower body injury during last Thursday’s lost to the Winnipeg Jets after taking a cross check to the midsection, while Draisaitl has missed the team’s last two games with an undisclosed injury. On Friday, it was reported that both Draisaitl and McDavid were headed for further testing on help determine the severity and duration of their injuries.
Also on Friday, head coach Kris Knoblauch stated both players would be day-to-day moving forward. Knoblauch added it’s important to preach caution at this stage of the season, and that is especially true when it comes to the team’s two best players. However, today’s news seems to reset the timeline for their return. The Oilers next three games will be against the Stars on Wednesday, the Kraken on Thursday, and the Flames on Saturday.
If possible, Draisaitl has risen his game to an even higher level this season. He currently leads the league in goals with 49 and his 101 points are second behind Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (105). He also leads the league in power play goals and game-winning goals. Meanwhile, McDavid has continued to produce at an MVP-candidate-level, posting 90 points in 63 games.
With the playoffs right around the corner, it goes without saying a full return to health for both players will be paramount to Edmonton’s hopes at another deep run. Last season, the two stars combined for an astonishing 73 points in 25 games, with McDavid securing the Conn Smythe Trophy despite coming up short of hoisting the Stanley Cup. The Oilers currently sit third in the Pacific with 87 points but are tied in points with Kings for second place.
Stan Bowman Shares Confidence In Connor McDavid Negotiations
In an interview with Sportsnet’s Scott Oake and Louie DeBrusk, Edmonton Oilers’ General Manager Stan Bowman spoke briefly on the upcoming extension negotiations between the Oilers and franchise superstar, Connor McDavid. As expected, Bowman appeared confident and optimistic about getting a deal done with McDavid and fell just short of guaranteeing it’ll happen during the summer.
Trent Frederic Out At Least Two More Weeks
Edmonton Oilers’ forward Trent Frederic will remain out for at least an additional two weeks with a lingering lower-body injury, per team reporter Tony Brar. Frederic has yet to appear for the Oilers since being traded to the club in a three-team deal on March 4.
At the time of the trade, Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic reported there being a possibility Frederic wouldn’t be available to play until the playoffs, so today’s news doesn’t necessarily mean he has had any setbacks with his injury. However, getting Frederic regular season playing time to knock off some rust and develop chemistry with his new teammates would no doubt be beneficial for the defending Western Conference champs. The Oilers currently rank second in the Pacific Division behind the Vegas Golden Knights.
Frederic was going through a tough season with the Boston Bruins – who drafted him 29th overall in the 2016 draft – to the tune of 15 points and a minus-14 rating though 57 games. This represented a steep decline from last season’s career-high 18 goals and 40 points.
Despite his offensive dip, Frederic has always provided a gritty, defensive-minded approach that could serve the Oilers well in a bottom-six role. In 82 games last season, Frederic blocked 52 shots and recorded 204 hits in 82 games, all while averaging just 13:45 of ice time per game. This season, the 6’3, 221 pound forward has recorded 155 hits in 57 games.
With the Bruins sliding further and further down the standings and with Frederic’s contract set to expire at season’s end, the trade made sense for all parties involved. But a solid showing in the playoffs could reestablish Frederic as a commodity this summer for team’s looking for a depth forward. At just 26-years-old, Frederic will have a chance to showcase his first-round pedigree if he can return to play for the Oilers.
Oilers’ Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl To Undergo Further Testing
Thursday night’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets was hard for the Edmonton Oilers to bear for many reasons. They entered the night without superstar forward Leon Draisaitl, who was announced as out day-to-day with an undisclosed injury after the team’s morning skate. Edmonton also saw two major injuries occur mid-game. Franchise centerman Connor McDavid left the game before the start of the third period, after appearing to suffer a lower-body injury on his final shift of the second-period – which only lasted 16 seconds. Later in the third, concussion spotters also forced starting goaltender Stuart Skinner to exit the game. The Oilers went on to lose 4-3 in overtime – and are now forced to pick up the pieces of three crucial absences. Both Draisaitl and McDavid will head for further testing on Friday to help determine the severity and duration of their injuries, per Frank Seravalli of DailyFaceoff.
No update has been provided on Skinner, though head coach Kris Knoblauch did share that Skinner was frustrated over getting pulled early, per Jason Gregor of Sports 1440. He’ll need to be cleared of a concussion before he can step back into the lineup.
This news comes as a terrible blow to an Oilers club that seemed to be firing on all cylinders. They were on a three-game win streak entering Thursday night, having outscored opponents 12-3 along the way. McDavid scored five points, and Draisaitl scored three points, over that streak – while Skinner saved 21 of the 22 shots he faced in one game of action. The trio served crucial roles in Edmonton’s success, and losing them so suddenly will be a blow to the Oilers roster.
Center Adam Henrique took over for McDavid on the top line in the immediate wake of his injury, while newcomer Max Jones slotted into a fourth-line role in Draisaitl’s absence. Henrique will likely maintain a top-six role while McDavid sits out, though priority minutes could go to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who has six points in his last three games. Jones will be the de facto fill-in winger, though he could face competition from healthy scratch Derek Ryan. Ryan hasn’t played since January 11th and has five points in 33 games this season. Jones has one assist in six games with the Oilers.
Edmonton will also keep an eye on Evander Kane as they think of deeper injury concerns. Kane hasn’t played since the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. He’s been forced out of this season by abdominal and knee surgeries, but returned to Edmonton’s practices for the first time on Thursday. He seems unlikely to return before the regular season ends, but any extended absences for Draisaitl or McDavid could push the Oilers to consider load management with just 13 games left in their season. Edmonton would need to clear roughly $5MM in cap space to active Kane off of long-term injured reserve before the season ended.
Meanwhile, Edmonton will likely be pushed to recall Collin Delia or Olivier Rodrigue should Skinner need to miss additional time. Pickard, who could get an open path to a short-term starting role, has posted a 3-2-0 record and .904 save percentage in his last five starts.
Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl Out Day-To-Day, Evander Kane Returns To Practice
Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and is expected to miss tonight’s clash with the Jets, head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters (including Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman). It’s not all bad news on the injury front for Edmonton, though. Winger Evander Kane skated at practice for the first time this season as he attempts a playoff return from abdominal and knee surgeries that have wiped out his 2024-25 campaign.
While Edmonton has a divisional playoff berth all but clinched, they’ve still got some important games to play to determine where they end up in the Pacific pecking order. A three-game winning streak after a 3-8-0 rut has them back on the right track, but they’re still at risk of being passed by the Kings for second in the division and losing home-ice advantage in what’s likely going to be a fourth consecutive first-round matchup between the two clubs.
That makes Draisaitl’s absence against a conference-leading Winnipeg club a tough one to swallow. The German superstar recently had his 18-game point streak draw to a close in Tuesday’s 7-1 drubbing of Utah, and he’s now the overwhelming favorite to take home the league’s goal-scoring crown with 49 in 68 games. He has an 11-tally gap on second-place William Nylander and trails the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon by three points for the overall scoring title.
It’s unclear what might be hampering Draisaitl with less than one month to go until the postseason. He’s yet to miss a game this year and didn’t miss any shifts against Utah earlier this week. In fact, he logged over 20 minutes for the fifth consecutive game.
The Oilers, who have juggled their lines with aplomb lately, will likely have Jeff Skinner up with Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid on the first line while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins shifts to center Viktor Arvidsson and Vasily Podkolzin in Draisaitl’s absence.
One of those top-six winger roles could be Kane’s come playoff time. While it’s clear he won’t be returning during the regular season – the Oilers are using his LTIR placement to remain cap-compliant down the stretch – getting back on the practice sheet now could indicate a first-round comeback.
Injuries aside, the 33-year-old is coming off a disappointing 2023-24 campaign. His 44 points in 77 regular-season appearances equated to his worst points-per-game rate since 2015-16, and he only managed eight points in 20 games in Edmonton’s run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. He led the 2022 postseason in goals with 13 in 15 games for the Oilers despite being swept in the Western Conference Final.
The Oilers even attempted to move Kane, who has a 16-team yes-trade list, before the deadline to open up financial flexibility. That ended up not coming to fruition, so he’s now a potential option to insert into the playoff lineup at some point for an Edmonton squad with just five players at or above 15 goals on the season.
Photo courtesy of Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images.
Oilers Recall Derek Ryan
The Oilers have recalled forward Derek Ryan from AHL Bakersfield, according to a team announcement. They’ll add the 38-year-old back to their roster for the first time since he cleared waivers in January.
Ryan has played four seasons for Edmonton after signing there as a free agent in 2021. His role has steadily declined since leaving the Flames for the more northern Alberta team, however, leading to his first AHL assignment since 2016.
The 5’10” center/winger scored 1-4–5 in 33 showings for the Oilers earlier this season, averaging just 9:25 per game but winning a career-high 60.3% of his draws. Since clearing waivers, he has 3-5–8 with a -10 rating in 13 games with the Condors.
Despite not making his NHL debut until age 29 after a lengthy career overseas, he’s managed to parlay his defensively responsible game and once-valuable depth scoring into a 603-game NHL career in parts of 10 seasons. Before breaking into the league with Carolina a decade ago, Ryan had already won MVP awards in two overseas leagues (ICEHL, SHL) and was a USports All-Star with the University of Alberta.
After recalling Ryan, the Oilers have 24 players on their roster with 14 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders. They’ve yet to make a recall since the trade deadline, so assuming Ryan’s summons isn’t under emergency conditions, he counts as their first of four post-deadline standard recalls.
Ryan is set for unrestricted free agency this summer after completing the two-year, $1.8MM extension he signed in 2023.
Zach Hyman Out Tonight For Oilers Despite Practicing Fully
Oilers’ left winger Zach Hyman is out for tonight’s contest against the New York Rangers, despite being a full participant in practice this afternoon, per Oilers commentator Bob Stauffer.
Hyman was officially listed as a game-time decision after sustaining what appeared to be a potentially severe injury Friday night against the New York Islanders. Hyman’s injury occurred early in the game, and despite remaining on the bench the entire game, he played limited minutes all night. He finished with just 10:36 of total ice time, a starch contrast from his season average of 19:11.
While Hyman won’t suit up tonight, it is welcomed news for the Oilers that he is already a full participant in practice. Hyman has once again surpassed the 20-goal plateau this season slotted alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Conor McDavid. Although he’s down from last year’s monster numbers of 54 goals and 77 points, Hyman still serves as a key piece to Edmonton’s Stanley Cup aspirations. In 10 NHL seasons, Hyman has registered 225 goals and 436 points in 641 games. He has registered at least 20 goals in each of his four seasons with the Oilers and adds an incredible plus-149 rating in 296 games with the club.
His importance to the team was perhaps never higher than their run to the Stanley Cup finals last year. Hyman scored 16 goals and 22 points in the team’s 25 playoff games. His 16 goals set a record for single-postseason goals in the salary-cap era. Hyman will look to remain healthy and return to that type of form as the Oilers gear up for another deep run.