Connor McDavid and Draisaitl Leon injury update: Oilers face major setback as the star players have been sidelined for a week

The Edmonton Oilers have been dealt a significant blow as both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are set to miss at least a week due to injuries. Head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed the unfortunate news on Monday, stating that the team will be without its two superstars for at least three games.

Leon Draisaitl suffered an undisclosed injury during the Oilers’ dominant 7-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club on March 18, following an awkward collision. Just two days later, Connor McDavid sustained a lower-body injury after taking a hit from Josh Morrissey in Edmonton’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
Daily Faceoff’s Jason Gregor provided an update on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "McDavid and Draisaitl unlikely to play any of the three games this week."

With the Oilers in the thick of the playoff race, missing two of the league’s best players at this crucial stage is far from ideal.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been the driving forces behind Edmonton’s success this season. McDavid has amassed 90 points (26 goals, 64 assists) in 63 games, while Draisaitl leads the team with 101 points (49 goals, 52 assists) in 68 games. They rank second and fourth in the NHL’s scoring race, making their absence a major challenge for the team.
With a 41-24-5 record and 87 points, the Oilers are tied with the Los Angeles Kings for second place in the Pacific Division. Every point matters, and without their top two stars, the team will need other players to step up.
Despite the adversity, the Oilers showed resilience in their first game without McDavid and Draisaitl, securing a 5-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins delivered a stellar performance with a hat trick, while Jeff Skinner and Adam Henrique also found the back of the net.
Moving forward, Edmonton will face tough matchups against the Dallas Stars, Kraken, and Calgary Flames. The hope is that players like Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, and Evan Bouchard can carry the load until McDavid and Draisaitl return.
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The Oilers are set to take on the Dallas Stars on Wednesday at Rogers Place, with puck drop at 10 p.m. EST. Fans will be hoping for another strong team effort to keep their playoff aspirations alive.