### Leon Draisaitl Takes Leave of Absence from Edmonton Oilers for Family Illness The Edmonton Oilers are facing a significant adjustment as their star forward, Leon Draisaitl, has announced a brief leave of absence to attend to a family illness in Germany. This decision comes at a crucial time in the NHL season, and the team will need to adapt without one of their key players. Draisaitl is expected to return to the team next week, but his absence will be felt as the Oilers navigate upcoming games without him [https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/leon-draisaitl-leaves-oilers-amid-200407526.html][https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/oilers-miss-leon-draisaitl-family-225718312.html]. ### Overview of Draisaitl's Leave of Absence 1. **Reason for Absence**: Draisaitl is taking time off to address a family illness in Germany, which has been confirmed by multiple sources [https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/oilers-leon-draisaitl-taking-leave-203232436.html][https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/release-oilers-statement-on-leon-draisaitl]. 2. **Impact on Team**: The Oilers will have to adjust their lineup and strategies in his absence, as he is a crucial part of their offensive setup [https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/oilers-leon-draisaitl-taking-leave-203232436.html][https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/oilers_leon_draisaitl_takes_leave_of_absence_due_to_family_illness/s1_16958_43346094]. 3. **Expected Duration**: Draisaitl is anticipated to return to the team next week, although the exact timeline remains uncertain [https://www.si.com/onsi/breakaway/edmonton-oilers/oilers-leon-draisaitl-traveling-germany-family-matter][https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6979497/2026/01/17/oilers-leon-draisaitl-leave-absence-family-illness]. ### Supporting Evidence of Draisaitl's Situation - **Team Statement**: The Oilers officially announced Draisaitl's leave, emphasizing the importance of family during this time [https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/release-oilers-statement-on-leon-draisaitl]. - **Player's Role**: Draisaitl is a key player for the Oilers, contributing significantly to their offensive capabilities, which makes his absence particularly impactful [https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/oilers-miss-leon-draisaitl-family-225718312.html]. - **Upcoming Games**: The Oilers will be without Draisaitl for several games, including a matchup against the Vancouver Canucks, which adds pressure on the remaining players to step up [https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/edmonton_oilers_star_to_step_away_from_team/s1_17203_43345604]. ### Conclusion: Navigating Draisaitl's Absence In summary, **Leon Draisaitl's leave of absence due to a family illness presents a challenge for the Edmonton Oilers**. The team must adapt quickly to fill the void left by one of their star players. 1. **Draisaitl's absence is confirmed due to a family matter** [https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/oilers-leon-draisaitl-taking-leave-203232436.html]. 2. **The Oilers will need to adjust their lineup and strategies** to cope with his absence [https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/oilers-miss-leon-draisaitl-family-225718312.html]. 3. **Draisaitl is expected to return next week**, providing hope for the team as they navigate this difficult period [https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/release-oilers-statement-on-leon-draisaitl]. The situation underscores the importance of family and the challenges professional athletes face in balancing personal and professional commitments.