Leon Draisaitl provided a measured injury update as the Edmonton Oilers are two games away from the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The injury, suffered on March 15 in a game against the Nashville Predators, has kept him out of the final stretch of the 2025-26 NHL regular season.
Speaking after returning to practice at Rogers Place, the star forward said his recovery is progressing, and he feels fine.
"Yeah, I feel fine," Draisaitl said. "Obviously, it's progress, and you know there's a timeline and you kind of have to follow that. But all in all, I feel pretty good, and it's just one day at a time."
Draisaitl confirmed he has been back on the ice since early last week. However, he still has steps to complete.
"Early last week was the first time, and yeah, just progressed from there, got better, and yeah, it feels pretty good right now, but obviously, you know there's many steps still to go," Draisaitl said.
When asked about returning in Game 1 of the playoffs, he made it clear that rushing back is not an option.
"I don't know. We'll see," Draisaitl said about Game 1 return possibility. "Obviously, you know, there's steps that I have to follow, and there's you know, certain things that I have to be able to do, and you know, I'm not there yet right now.
"So, we'll see how that is by the end of the week or whenever game one would be."
Still, a return either early or later in the first round appears more realistic at this stage.
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The Oilers have taken a careful approach with his recovery. The coaching staff has emphasized patience, aiming to have him fully fit rather than risking further setbacks. His importance to the team's scoring, with 35 goals this season, makes that decision critical.
Before the injury, Draisaitl was leading Edmonton’s offense with 97 points in 65 games. His presence alongside Connor McDavid forms one of the league’s most dangerous duos.
As the playoffs approach, Edmonton’s hopes will depend heavily on his return. For now, Draisaitl continues to focus on daily progress, with the goal of being ready when it matters most.
