Oilers Hopeful Star Leon Draisaitl Will Return for Playoff Opener vs. Ducks

Insider believes Draisaitl could be back in the lineup for Game 1 after missing time with a lower body injury.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 6:22pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a hockey game, with the Oilers' Leon Draisaitl as the central figure, his movements fractured and abstracted into sharp, overlapping planes of color.The Oilers' hopes of finally breaking through to win the Stanley Cup rest heavily on the return of star center Leon Draisaitl from injury.Anaheim Today

The Edmonton Oilers are preparing to face off against the Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and there is optimism that star forward Leon Draisaitl could return to the lineup for Game 1 on Monday. Draisaitl has been out since March with a lower body injury, but an insider believes he has been skating and could be ready to go for the series opener.

Why it matters

Draisaitl's return would be a major boost for the Oilers, who are looking to make another deep playoff run after reaching the Stanley Cup Final in each of the last two seasons. The Oilers have missed Draisaitl's offensive production, as he was having a great season with 97 points before the injury.

The details

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch had previously stated that he expected Draisaitl to be ready to play at some point in the Ducks series. TSN reporter Ryan Rishaug has now indicated that Draisaitl has been seen skating, and the expectation is that he could return for Game 1 on Monday.

  • Draisaitl has been out since March with a lower body injury.
  • The Oilers and Ducks face off in Game 1 of their playoff series on Monday, April 22, 2026.

The players

Leon Draisaitl

A star forward for the Edmonton Oilers who was having a great season with 97 points before suffering a lower body injury in March.

Kris Knoblauch

The head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, who had previously stated that he expected Draisaitl to be ready to play at some point in the Ducks series.

Connor McDavid

The captain of the Edmonton Oilers, who expressed the team's belief in their ability to win in the playoffs despite coming up short in the last two Stanley Cup Finals.

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What they’re saying

“So a full lineup is possible for game one.”

— Ryan Rishaug, TSN Reporter

“The expectation is the same as always. We've got a great belief in here. Playoff hockey is unique. It's a skill to win in the playoffs, and we feel pretty good about having that skill, having been there and winning a lot of playoff games. That being said, it's exciting for everybody and we've got to be ready to roll.”

— Connor McDavid, Oilers Captain

What’s next

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The takeaway

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