Hockey Takes a Back Seat: Oilers' Leon Draisaitl Steps Away
There are moments in the NHL when the standings, the schedules, and the nightly grind suddenly feel small. This is one of them. Leon Draisaitl won’t be in the lineup for Edmonton right now, not because of rest or tactics, but because real life has intervened. The Oilers announced today that Draisaitl has taken a leave of absence to return to Germany and be with his family as they deal with an illness. He’s expected back sometime next week, but the timeline isn’t the point.
What matters is that one of the league’s most relentless competitors stepped away without hesitation.
Draisaitl Has Put Up a Dominant Season for the Oilers
Draisaitl is in the middle of another dominant season with 67 points in 48 games. He’s been a fixture on highlight reels and has already been named to Team Germany’s Olympic roster. For Edmonton, he’s not just a top-line center. He’s a huge part of the team’s momentum. He’s the guy who calms games down or blows them open, depending on what’s needed.
And yet, none of that outweighs family.
Hockey culture loves toughness. It celebrates players who play through pain, who grind through slumps, who push past exhaustion. But there’s another kind of strength that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough — knowing when to step away, and having an organization that backs you when you do.
The Oilers did precisely that. No drama. No vague language. Just a simple announcement and a clear message: take the time you need.
On the Ice, the Oilers Will Adjust
On the ice, Edmonton will adjust. Andrew Mangiapane likely draws in. Minutes will get shared and shuffled. The power play will look different. That’s the easy part. Teams solve hockey problems every night.
What they can’t replace is what Draisaitl brings that goes beyond the ice. He carries confidence and an edge that adds to Edmonton’s success because the rest of the lineup knows one of its best players is fully present. Right now, his presence belongs somewhere else.
For hockey fans, it’s a reminder that players aren’t just assets or stat lines. They’re sons, brothers, partners, and family members. The game asks a lot of them, but not everything. Sometimes it’s time for the team to carry on without one of its stars.
When Draisaitl returns, he’ll pick up where he left off. That’s what he always does. Until then, the scoreboard can wait. Some things matter more than the next faceoff.