The Edmonton Oilers are considered one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, but their two best players are dealing with injuries as the playoffs approach. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are expected to miss at least the team’s next few games.
The earliest McDavid and Drasaitl could return is April 1, but the Oilers have not committed to a definite return date for either player. Drasaitl leads the NHL with 49 goals, and he’s second in the league with 101 points. McDavid is third in assists (64) and fourth in points (90).
The Oilers are battling for playoff position with the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division, and being down McDavid and Draisaitl puts them at a significant disadvantage. That means Edmonton may not have home-ice advantage in the first round and likely beyond.
The other team from last year’s Stanley Cup Final is also dealing with significant injuries. After injuring his groin in the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Florida Panthers announced star forward Matthew Tkachuk has been placed on LTIR and will likely be out until the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“Matthew’s going to be out for an extended period of time. We hope to get him back for the playoffs,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said on March 3.
Here is a list of many of the marquee players that are currently sidelined due to injury.
Brock McGinn (LW)
Type of Injury: Torn ACL
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 2025-26 season
Last Played: 12/23/24
Robby Fabbri (C)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 2/25/25
Hampus Lindholm (D)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown (expected to miss multiple weeks)
Last Played: 11/12/24
Charlie McAvoy (D)
Type of Injury: Infection
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 2/8/25
Buffalo Sabres
Josh Norris (C)
Type of Injury: Undisclosed
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/12/25
Jiri Kulich (C)
Type of Injury: Concussion
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/15/25
Justin Kirkland (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/29/25
Jesper Fast (RW)
Type of Injury: Neck
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 4/16/24
Andrei Svechnikov (RW)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/9/25
Alec Martinez (D)
Type of Injury: Undisclosed
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 3/22/25
Colorado Avalanche
Gabriel Landeskog (LW)
Type of Injury: Knee
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 6/26/22
Josh Manson (D)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: 3-4 weeks
Last Played: 3/14/25
Samuel Girard (D)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/19/25
Kevin Labanc (RW)
Type of Injury: Shoulder
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 2025-26 season
Last Played: 2/4/25
Cole Sillinger (C)
Type of Injury: Shoulder
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Week-to-week
Last Played: 2/27/25
Tyler Seguin (C)
Type of Injury: Hip
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 4-6 months
Last Played: 12/1/24
Miro Heiskanen (D)
Type of Injury: Knee
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Month-to-month
Last Played: 1/28/25
Nils Lundkvist (D)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 1/21/25
Andrew Copp (C)
Type of Injury: Pectoral
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 2025-26 season
Last Played: 2/22/25
Connor McDavid (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/20/25
Leon Draisaitl (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/18/25
Evander Kane (LW)
Type of Injury: Hip, hernia surgeries
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: February 2025
Last Played: 6/10/24
Trent Frederic (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 2/25/25
Florida Panthers
Matthew Tkachuk (LW)
Type of Injury: Groin
Injured Reserve: Yes (LTIR)
Approximate Return Date: Start of 2025 postseason
Last Played: 2/8/25
Brad Marchand (LW)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: 4/8/25
Last Played: 3/1/25
Dmitry Kulikov (D)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Week-to-week
Last Played: 3/16/25
Kirill Kaprizov (LW)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 4 weeks
Last Played: 1/26/25
Joel Eriksson Ek (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Week-to-week
Last Played: 2/22/25
Jonas Brodin (D)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/22/25
Marcus Foligno (LW)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/15/25
Kaiden Guhle (D)
Type of Injury: Quad
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 1/28/25
Kirby Dach (C)
Type of Injury: Knee
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 2025-26 season
Last Played: 2/22/25
Roman Josi (D)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 2/25/25
Jeremy Lauzon (D)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 2025-26 season
Last Played: 12/31/24
Adam Wilsby (D)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 2025-26 season
Last Played: 2/3/25
Jack Hughes (C)
Type of Injury: Shoulder
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 2025-26 season
Last Played: 3/2/25
Dougie Hamilton (D)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 3/4/25
Jonas Siegenthaler (D)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 2-3 weeks
Last Played: 2/4/25
Semyon Varlamov (G)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/29/24
Mat Barzal (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 1/1/25
Matt Martin (LW)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 1/16/25
Philadelphia Flyers
Rasmus Ristolainen (D)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Week-to-week
Last Played: 3/11/25
P.O. Joseph (D)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 3/1/25
Tommy Novak (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/9/25
Logan Couture (C)
Type of injury: Groin
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 1/31/24
Seattle Kraken
Chandler Stephenson (C)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 3/19/25
Torey Krug (D)
Type of Injury: Ankle surgery
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 2025-26 season
Last Played: 4/10/24
Colton Parayko (D)
Type of Injury: Knee
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: 6 weeks
Last Played: 3/5/25
Jani Hakanpaa (D)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/16/24
Robert Bortuzzo (D)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 1/2/25
Elias Pettersson (C)
Type of Injury: Undisclosed
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/22/25
Nils Hoglander (LW)
Type of Injury: Undisclosed
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/22/25
Filip Chytil (C)
Type of Injury: Concussion
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/15/25
Vegas Golden Knights
Tomas Hertl (C)
Type of Injury: Arm
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 3/23/25
Shea Theodore (D)
Type of Injury: Wrist
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Week-to-week
Last Played: 1/8/25
Sonny Milano (LW)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Week-to-week
Last Played: 11/6/24
Jakob Chychrun (D)
Type of Injury: Hand
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 3/22/25
Winnipeg Jets
Gabriel Vilardi (C)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Week-to-week
Last Played: 3/23/25
Neal Pionk (D)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Week-to-week
Last Played: 3/11/25
As the 2024-25 NHL season winds down and teams gear up for the playoffs, fans are eagerly awaiting updates on the health of some of the league’s biggest stars. Two players who have been making headlines for their injuries are Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers.
Connor McDavid, widely regarded as one of the best players in the NHL, has been dealing with a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup for several games. The Oilers have been tight-lipped about the specifics of McDavid’s injury, but reports suggest that it is not expected to be a long-term issue. With the playoffs just around the corner, fans are hopeful that McDavid will be back in action soon to lead the Oilers to a deep postseason run.
Meanwhile, Leon Draisaitl, McDavid’s teammate and another key player for the Oilers, has also been dealing with an injury of his own. Draisaitl has been nursing an upper-body injury that has sidelined him for a few games. Like McDavid, the Oilers have not provided much information about the severity of Draisaitl’s injury, but there is optimism that he will be back on the ice in time for the playoffs.
Injuries are a common occurrence in the fast-paced and physical game of hockey, and teams often have to deal with key players being sidelined at crucial times. However, the depth of a team’s roster and the ability of other players to step up in the absence of injured stars can make all the difference in a team’s playoff success.
As fans eagerly await updates on McDavid and Draisaitl’s injuries, one thing is for certain: both players will be doing everything they can to get back on the ice and help their team compete for a Stanley Cup. Stay tuned for more updates as the playoffs draw near.
