Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl is taking a brief leave of absence to attend to a family illness in Germany, the team announced on Saturday. The 30-year-old star, who returned home to Cologne on Friday, is expected to rejoin the team later next week. The club has requested privacy for Draisaitl and his family during this time.
The Edmonton Oilers issued a statement confirming that forward Leon Draisaitl will miss upcoming games, including Saturday's matchup against the Vancouver Canucks and Sunday's home game versus the St. Louis Blues, due to a family illness requiring his presence in Germany. Draisaitl, who had not missed a game this 2025-26 season, traveled back to his family home in Cologne on Friday. His family had been in Edmonton just last Saturday to celebrate his milestone 1,000th NHL point.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch addressed the situation after the team's morning skate in Vancouver, saying, “Obviously, we’re going to miss Leon, and hopefully it’s not very long. And obviously we support Leon. What’s going on right now, it’s an unfortunate situation.” Captain Connor McDavid echoed the sentiment, stating, “Obviously we’ll miss him. But the job comes second. Everybody in here is a brother, father, son, whatever it is, and that stuff comes first. He’s got to go home and be with his family and we’re obviously thinking about him and his entire family. We’ve got to take care of things.” McDavid noted the team's experience stepping up during last season's injuries, adding opportunities for others to contribute.
Draisaitl, second on the Oilers with 67 points (25 goals, 42 assists) and fifth in the NHL, averages 22:05 of ice time per game and has 31 power-play points. He won the Rocket Richard Trophy last season with 52 goals and is on pace for his fifth straight 100-point campaign. The Oilers, coming off recent games including a 1-0 loss to the Islanders and a 4-3 overtime defeat to the Predators, face a schedule with eight straight home games after Saturday's tilt.
On behalf of Draisaitl, the club has asked for privacy as he attends to family matters.
