Leon Draisaitl, Jason Dickinson ready for Oilers in Game 1 vs. Ducks

The Edmonton Oilers will have their hands full with the high-flying Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the Oilers have other issues this season, one massive one entering the playoffs was the injury status of superstar Leon Draisaitl. The forward missed the last month of the season with a lower-body injury, and it was unclear whether he would be able to return in time for Game 1.

The Oilers also made a move to add Jason Dickinson at the trade deadline, a defensive forward to add some depth in the bottom-six. Dickinson also missed the final few games of the season with an injury from blocking a shot. Nevertheless, both Draisaitl and Dickinson hit the ice for warmups before Game 1. They will give the Oilers a much healthier lineup than most expected, according to Elliotte Friedman via X, formerly Twitter.

While Connor McDavid has been carrying the weight for the Oilers and nearly put the team in a position to get the first seed in the Pacific Division, the depth that Draisaitl brings to the world’s best player was well-needed. Whether it’s Kris Knoblauch combining the two on the same line or making them a one-two punch down the middle, the Oilers can be Stanley Cup contenders when both are healthy.

Leon Draisaitl finished the season with 97 points in 65 games. It was the first time he hadn’t hit the 100-point mark since the COVID-19-shortened 2020-21 season. Before that, the last time was during the 2017-18 season, marking a sustained run of great success for the German superstar.

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