Oilers' Leon Draisaitl Out for Rest of Regular Season

Injury leaves Edmonton without one of the NHL's top scorers for playoff push

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:45pm

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The Edmonton Oilers announced that star forward Leon Draisaitl will miss the remainder of the NHL regular season due to a lower-body injury sustained in a game against the Nashville Predators. Draisaitl, who won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2020, is fourth in the NHL in scoring this season with 97 points in 65 games.

Why it matters

Draisaitl's absence is a major blow to the Oilers, who are in a tight race for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. As one of the league's elite players, Draisaitl's production will be difficult to replace as Edmonton tries to secure a postseason berth.

The details

Draisaitl left Sunday's game against the Predators after being bumped hard by Ozzy Wiesblatt in the first period and did not return. The Oilers have not provided specifics on the nature of Draisaitl's injury, but have ruled him out for at least the final 14 games of the regular season.

  • Draisaitl was injured on March 12, 2026 in a game against the Nashville Predators.
  • The Oilers announced Draisaitl will miss the remainder of the regular season on March 17, 2026.

The players

Leon Draisaitl

A 30-year-old forward for the Edmonton Oilers who is fourth in the NHL in scoring this season with 97 points in 65 games. Draisaitl won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2020.

Ozzy Wiesblatt

A player for the Nashville Predators who was involved in the incident that led to Draisaitl's injury.

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What’s next

The Oilers will try to secure a playoff spot without Draisaitl, who is expected to return at some point during the postseason.

The takeaway

Draisaitl's injury is a major setback for the Oilers, who will need to find a way to replace the production of one of the NHL's elite players as they fight for a playoff berth in the tight Western Conference race.