Leon Draisaitl is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and missed Thursday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch emphasized the team will take a cautious approach with Draisaitl as playoff season approaches.
“Absolutely, it’s definitely being cautious,” Knoblauch said. “We’re hitting the end of the regular season, hitting the playoffs. We want 100% from Leon when he’s healthy, and this is something we do not want to linger.”
“Leon has played through so much. He’s a battler, so there’s not too often that he comes out of the lineup. We’re just being cautious here,” he added.
The Oilers have 13 games left in the regular season.
Edmonton currently sits second in the Pacific Division, trailing the Vegas Golden Knights by two points while holding a three-point advantage over the Los Angeles Kings.
Draisaitl leads the NHL with 49 goals this season and ranks second with 101 points. The center also averages 21:39 ice time per game, fifth highest among all forwards.
The 29-year-old has been remarkably durable throughout his career, missing just nine games since the 2016-17 season.
