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Personal leave puts hockey into perspective for Oilers star Leon
Draisaitl

   Gemma Karstens-Smith
   | The Canadian Press | Posted: January 24, 2026 10:23 PM | Last
   Updated: 13 hours ago

   Edmonton went 2-1-0 in centre's 3-game absence

   Image | HOCKEY-NHL-EDM-PIT/

   Caption: Leon Draisaitl, left, tries to skate by Pittsburg
   Penguins defenceman Parker Wotherspoon during NHL action on
   Jan. 22. The Thursday game was the Edmonton Oiler's first
   appearance since taking a three-game personal leave. (Perry
   Nelson/Imagn Images)
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   Time away from the Edmonton Oilers has clarified what's truly
   important for star forward Leon Draisaitl.
   The 30-year-old centre stepped away from the NHL team last week
   and returned to Germany to attend to a family illness.
   He missed three games, during which Edmonton went 2-1-0 and
   outscored their opponents 12-2.
   Draisaitl said the Oilers were supportive of his brief personal
   leave.
   "Obviously I needed to be with my family," he said on Saturday.
   "It puts things into perspective at times, how little this in
   here really matters when it comes to life."
     * Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark granted leave of
       absence

     * Senators' players, coach come to defence of Ullmark,
       general manager Staios

   The sniper rejoined his teammates on Thursday after a long day
   of travel and logged 19:17 in ice time in Edmonton's 6-2 loss
   to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
   He took morning skate on Saturday. The Oilers (25-19-8) host
   the Washington Capitals later in the day.
   "Leon, I can't imagine what he's gone through this past week
   and a half," said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. "You play
   under the circumstances that he did, flying all day, the time
   change … and then playing. It would be ridiculous to think Leon
   would be at his best."

   Image | HOCKEY-NHL-EDM-NYI/

   Caption: Draisaitl, centre, skates with the puck during
   Edmonton's 1-0 win over the New York Islanders on Jan. 15. The
   German took a short personal leave after the game. (Perry
   Nelson/Imagn Images)
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   Draisaitl has 25 goals and 42 assists over 49 games this season
   and sits second on the team in scoring behind Connor McDavid’s
   85 points.
   Even when Draisaitl's not at his best, he's a "huge boost" to
   the Oilers, both during five-on-five play and on the power
   play, Knoblauch added.
   "He definitely helps us in the lineup, just being there," the
   coach said. "Obviously when we're having success and the team's
   playing well, he's a big part of it. And we welcome him playing
   at his best."
   Winger Andrew Mangiapane is expected to skate on a line with
   Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin against the Capitals.
   Playing with Draisaitl is always a big opportunity, he said.
   "He's obviously a talented skill player, right? So I'm just
   trying to go in there, play my game and try to complement him
   and Podzi here," Mangiapane said.
   "He just kind of got back, but, yeah, he's obviously a smart,
   skilled player. So get open, he'll find you. And just try to
   play your game."
   WATCH | Former NHLer Bissonnette on Canada's Olympic hockey
   roster:

   Media Video |

   Caption: CBC Sports' Anastasia Bucsis chatted with hockey media
   personality and former NHLer Paul Bissonnette about the men's
   Olympic hockey tournament and his thoughts on the team. They
   also talked about the hit television show, Heated Rivalry.
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   pages.
   The Oilers head into Saturday's matchup sitting second in the
   Pacific Division, four points behind the Vegas Golden Knights.
   Draisaitl said he wasn't watching the team "shift by shift"
   while in Germany, but knows the group needs to find some
   consistency over their next six games ahead of the Olympic
   break.
   "Last game obviously wasn't our best," he said. "It's important
   to find our game here before the break."

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