Oilers' Hyman could miss 2 weeks, Draisaitl expected to skate soon

Penguins' Skinner also dealing with upper-body injury

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:54pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game in progress, with the players and ice surface broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the Oilers and Penguins uniforms.Injuries to key players like Hyman and Draisaitl could impact the Oilers' playoff push, as the team navigates a challenging late-season schedule.Today in Nashville

Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman could miss up to two weeks due to a lingering undisclosed injury, while teammate Leon Draisaitl is expected to start skating next week as he recovers from a lower-body injury sustained on March 15. Additionally, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jeff Skinner is dealing with an upper-body injury.

Why it matters

Hyman and Draisaitl are key offensive contributors for the Oilers, who are fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Their absences could impact the team's postseason push. Skinner's injury is also noteworthy as the Penguins look to secure their own playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

The details

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said Hyman has been playing through a lingering injury, including 16:40 of ice time in a 3-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. However, the team feels it's best to let Hyman rest and heal, rather than aggravate the issue. Knoblauch also said Draisaitl, who was injured during a 3-1 win against the Nashville Predators on March 15, is expected to start skating next week while the team is on a three-game road trip.

  • Hyman was injured during the Oilers' 3-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, April 3, 2026.
  • Draisaitl was injured during the Oilers' 3-1 win against the Nashville Predators on March 15, 2026.

The players

Zach Hyman

An Edmonton Oilers forward who has been playing through a lingering undisclosed injury.

Leon Draisaitl

An Edmonton Oilers forward who was injured on March 15 and is expected to start skating next week.

Jeff Skinner

A Pittsburgh Penguins forward who is dealing with an upper-body injury.

Kris Knoblauch

The head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.

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What they’re saying

“If this was a playoff game, he'd be playing. We feel it's best to give him some rest and let him be healthy and not aggravate anything. A lot of our players are going through something, but it's something that wasn't getting better and we wanted to give him some rest and can heal and then he can be 100 percent for the playoffs. Whether that's five days or 14 days, something in that window, then we should be good.”

— Kris Knoblauch, Edmonton Oilers Head Coach

What’s next

The Oilers are on a three-game road trip that begins at the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday, April 8, 2026, and Draisaitl is expected to start skating during that trip.

The takeaway

The Oilers are dealing with key injuries to two of their top offensive players, Hyman and Draisaitl, as they fight for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Their absences could impact the team's postseason push, but the Oilers are taking a cautious approach to ensure the players are fully healthy for the playoffs.