The Edmonton Oilers will be without their superstar forward Leon Draisaitl for their upcoming slate of games after the German national flew home to attend to a family illness. The team announced the news on Saturday, January 17, 2026.
Draisaitl's Absence and Expected Return
The Oilers' statement did not provide specific details about the nature of the family matter, respecting the player's privacy. However, it did indicate that Draisaitl is expected to rejoin the team later next week. His departure comes at a challenging time in the NHL schedule.
Impact on the Oilers' Lineup
Losing Draisaitl is a significant blow to the Oilers' offensive capabilities. The centre, who recently celebrated his 1,000th point as an Oiler, is a cornerstone of the team's success. This season, he ranks fourth in league scoring with 67 points and has been directly involved in 67 of Edmonton's 159 goals, accounting for 42 percent of the team's offence.
His role extends beyond even-strength play. Draisaitl is a vital component of the power play, which generates nearly 30 percent of Edmonton's total goals. Furthermore, he is the team's most relied-upon player in the face-off circle, having taken 799 of the team's 2,539 draws this season with an impressive 56.3 percent winning percentage.
Navigating a Packed Schedule
The timing of his absence is particularly difficult as the Oilers face a compressed schedule ahead of the Olympic break. Edmonton is set to play several games in quick succession:
- Saturday night versus the Vancouver Canucks
- Sunday against the St. Louis Blues
- Tuesday versus the New Jersey Devils
- Followed by three games in five nights against Pittsburgh, Washington, and Anaheim
This stretch of games will test the team's depth. The absence of Draisaitl, combined with forward Adam Henrique on injured reserve, puts pressure on other key players. Connor McDavid, who has taken 528 face-offs with a 47 percent win rate, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will need to shoulder more responsibility.
The Oilers are currently locked in a tight race for the top spot in the Pacific Division with the Vegas Golden Knights, who have begun to pull ahead with a 6-3-1 record in their last ten games compared to Edmonton's 4-4-2.
