<p><a href="https://oilersnation.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed Friday that superstar center Leon Draisaitl will be out of the lineup on a short-term basis due to a lower-body injury.</p>



<p>“He will not be playing tomorrow. He is out short term. We don’t have an exact timeframe,” Knoblauch <a href="https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1908267946314436853">told reporters</a>. “I don’t believe it’s going to be something that is going to head into the playoffs. We think it’s something where he is back well before that, so we’re not too concerned, especially with Leon’s pain tolerance and the things that he has played through before.”</p>



<p>Facing the Pacific Division rival <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/san-jose-sharks/line-combinations">San Jose Sharks</a> on Thursday, Draisaitl left midway through the second period and did not return. The contest marked the third game since Draisaitl returned to the lineup following a four-game absence through late March due to an undisclosed injury.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="139"></div>



<p>As noted by Knoblauch, Draisaitl will not be the lineup Saturday versus the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/los-angeles-kings/line-combinations">Los Angeles Kings</a>, one of seven regular season contests remaining for the Oilers. On the season, the Kings sit second place in the Pacific Division, two points ahead of the Oilers.</p>



<p>For Draisaitl, through 71 appearances this season, the 29-year-old German-born forward has put up a league-leading 52 goals as part of a 106-point campaign. While Draisaitl has never taken home the Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy – this season he stands 10 tallies clear of <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> right winger William Nylander for the league lead – in 2019-20, Draisaitl claimed the Art Ross Trophy, one of six seasons in which he has reached triple-digit production.</p>



<p>The third-overall selection from the 2014 NHL Draft, Draisaitl has skated part of 11 seasons with the Oilers counting 790 career contests in which he has collected 399 goals and 557 assists for 956 points. Draisaitl has also added 108 points through 74 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="168"></div>
