Oilers confirm Leon Draisaitl played with rib, hand injuries in playoffs
By Sam Nestler
2 days agoNow that the 2024 Stanley Cup has concluded and the trophy has been handed out — I am not going to say to whom — it’s time to shift our attention to the NHL offseason.
But first, some more information on the 2024 Stanley Cup Final and your Edmonton Oilers.
On Wednesday, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch spoke to the media as part of the end-of-the-year press conferences. During that time, Knoblauch revealed some information on which Oilers’ players were dealing with injuries during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Well, which of them were dealing with significant injuries, I should say.
Knoblauch confirmed what Oilersnation’s Zach Laing reported on Tuesday, that both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were playing through significant injuries in the playoffs and Final.
McDavid’s injury wasn’t revealed, but Laing reported was an abdominal injury that likely requires surgery. Draisaitl, who was the best player through the first two rounds of the playoffs but slowed significantly in the Western Conference Final and Stanley Cup Final, was playing through both a hand and rib injury. Knoblauch even made it seem like Draisaitl may have been hampered by more than one of each.
Evander Kane was still dealing with the effects of his previously disclosed sports hernia from the end of the regular season, Knoblauch added. The injury kept him out of Games 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Final.
“With Connor’s, I am not sure what the process is going to be and how bad it was,” Knoblauch said. ” I don’t have very much information to give you with Connor’s. Leon, battling things throughout the playoffs. Ribs, hands… Certain times it was worse than others. There were games where I wasn’t sure he was going to play. But he fought through it and played very well in those games.”
McDavid was the best player in the playoffs. He finished first with 42 points (eight goals, 34 assists) and won the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP, despite losing in Game 7 and being held without a point in the final two games of the Final.
Draisaitl was dominant in the first two rounds, racking up 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in 12 games against the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks. After that, he was only able to produce seven points (two goals, five assists) in 13 games, presumably following one or more of his injuries mentioned above. He finished with 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 25 playoff games, third in the League behind McDavid and Evan Bouchard.
Draisaitl is entering the final year of his eight-year deal and spoke about his contract and future this morning.
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