Oilers Injury Update: Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman Playoff Status

The Edmonton Oilers received a significant update regarding their roster health on April 13, 2026, as star forwards Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman both returned to the ice for the team’s morning skate at Rogers Place. The return of the two offensive leaders comes at a critical juncture, with the Stanley Cup playoffs scheduled to begin on April 18, 2026.

While the presence of both players at practice on April 13, 2026, provided a positive sign for the organization, the timeline for their full return to game action remains cautious. Draisaitl, who has been sidelined since March 15, 2026, due to a lower-body injury, participated in the session and was described by TSN’s Ryan Rishaug as skating fairly well.

Draisaitl’s Path to Postseason Return

Leon Draisaitl has missed 12 games during his current injury spell. In an effort to accelerate his recovery, the superstar traveled to his native Germany to consult with a specialist before returning to Edmonton to resume skating with his teammates.

Despite the progress made during the April 13, 2026, practice, Draisaitl indicated that he may not be fully healthy in time for the start of the first round. Speaking to reporters after the session, Draisaitl expressed uncertainty regarding his availability for the opening game of the playoffs.

I don’t know [if I’ll be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs], we’ll see. You’ll see steps that I have to follow and there are certain things that I have to be able to do, and I’m not there yet right now. We’ll see how that is by the end of the week or whenever Game 1 would be.

Leon Draisaitl

Draisaitl added that he has been increasing the intensity of his skating over the past week and noted that all in all I feel pretty good & it’s just one day at a time.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch provided a slightly more optimistic outlook on the timing of the superstar’s return, stating that the coaching staff expects Draisaitl to be back in the lineup during the first round of the postseason.

Leon, as I said before, we’re expecting him sometime in round one

Kris Knoblauch

Hyman and Additional Roster Concerns

Zach Hyman, who has been sidelined since April 2, 2026, also returned to practice on April 13, 2026, taking part in line rushes. However, Hyman did not play in the team’s game on April 13, 2026, and his status remains questionable for the regular season finale on Thursday.

The Oilers are managing several other injuries as they prepare for the postseason. Jason Dickinson is expected to miss the final two games of the regular season and will be re-evaluated prior to the start of the playoffs. Max Jones is currently sidelined and is expected to be out for three to four weeks.

Standings and Team Performance Context

The timing of these injuries has coincided with a period of struggle for Edmonton. The team has managed only one victory in four games during the stretch where both Draisaitl and Hyman were absent from the lineup.

Beyond the injuries to its forwards, Edmonton has struggled defensively throughout the 2025-26 campaign. The Oilers have allowed 263 goals so far this season, a figure that ranks as the fifth-worst in the NHL.

These challenges come as the Oilers fight for the top of the Pacific Division. With only two games remaining in the regular season, Edmonton sits just one point behind the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

While the Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup finals in each of the previous two seasons, the team enters the 2026 postseason facing a combination of defensive instability and a precarious health situation for its primary offensive catalysts.