Edmonton Oilers Place Leon Draisaitl on Injured Reserve

The Edmonton Oilers have placed forward Leon Draisaitl on the injured reserve, the team announced Monday.

Draisaitl, who last played on Oct. 9, was injured during the team’s 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Despite reports that he took a stick or puck to the eye, he apparently took a hit from Jacob Trouba, which led to swelling in his eye. He has been absent from practice, as he is suffering from a lack of vision and a black eye. Most recently, McLellan said that he is also experiencing concussion-type symptoms.

Edmonton Oilers

Draisaitl’s Contributions

The German winger has a goal and three points through three games so far this season and is one of the Oilers’ top contributors. He finished eighth in league scoring last year with 29 goals and 77 points, and also made up the league’s deadliest duo, playing alongside Connor McDavid.

With him out of the lineup, the Oilers are facing trouble when it comes to lack of production, and also need to see more offence. Not only that, they are also struggling with a lack of depth on the right side.

Kailer Yamamoto has taken on Draisaitl’s role with him out of the lineup, skating on the top trio alongside McDavid and Patrick Maroon. In his first game on that line, he recorded his first NHL point and six shots and created plenty of scoring chances.

Right now, there is no timetable on the 21-year-old winger’s return, but it does not look good for the Oilers. The team is missing his production, as evident by their struggles to produce on the ice. Hopefully, this isn’t long-term, and won’t hold him out for too much longer. However, given the magnitude of the injury so far, as well as how much it has limited him moving forward, it isn’t looking too optimistic.

Next: Oilers Place Caggiula on IR, Recall Malone

Drake Caggiula is also on the injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. And with both players indefinitely shelved, the Oilers will need their forwards to step up.