Leon Draisaitl is on the mend, but the Edmonton Oilers' second-leading scorer won't be pushed back into action before he's truly ready.
Speaking to media Monday after participating in practice on the fifth line, Draisaitl struck an optimistic but cautious tone about his return from injury. The 28-year-old has been sidelined since suffering an undisclosed injury in the first period of a matchup against Nashville on March 15, when he took a hard hit along the boards.
"I feel fine. Obviously, it's progress, and there's a timeline, and I kind of have to follow that. But all in all, I feel pretty good. And it's just one day at a time," Draisaitl said. "There are steps that I have to follow, and there are certain things that I have to be able to do, and I'm not there yet right now."
The German forward sought specialized treatment in his home country in late March, consulting with renowned sports physician Dr. Müller-Wohlfahrt, who has worked with elite athletes globally, including Toronto's Auston Matthews.
Known for his exceptional pain tolerance and willingness to play through bumps and bruises, Draisaitl acknowledged this injury requires a different approach. Unlike the minor ailments he's pushed through throughout his career, this one demands genuine healing time before he can contribute effectively.
"There's certain things that you can play through, and other things that are just, you have to think about your future and the team's future a little bit," he explained. "I think our staff and our medical staff and myself, we know how to handle these situations, and we know when it's good to go and when it's not."
Knoblauch Tempers Playoff Expectations
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch echoed the measured approach, refusing to commit to having Draisaitl available for Game 1 of the playoff series, though that remains the goal.
"Hopefully, with skates and the rehab treatments that he's getting, he's ready for us. Ideally, it'd be Game 1. If it's Game 3 or 4, then so be it. We're going to have to adjust," Knoblauch told reporters. "We know Leon will play through a lot of pain, and he wants to play in the Stanley Cup more than anything, so there's never a doubt about his will. We'd be very fortunate to have him Game 1, but we'll have to wait and find out."Other Injury Updates
The Oilers also provided updates on several other players dealing with injuries. Zach Hyman won't play Monday night against Colorado but is listed as questionable for Thursday's regular season finale against Vancouver. Jason Dickinson will miss the final two games, with Knoblauch suggesting playoff availability remains uncertain. Max Jones is expected to sideline for three to four weeks following a Saturday injury against Los Angeles.
Isaac Howard has been recalled from the Bakersfield Condors to fill the roster gap, joining the top six alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Roslovic for the Avalanche matchup.
This article was adapted from reporting by OilersNation, your source for Edmonton Oilers coverage and analysis. Visit OilersNation.com for more team updates and in-depth commentary.