The Edmonton Oilers roster crunch will live to see another day.

While tough decisions have been expected to come for the team with a roster presumably getting healthier in the coming weeks — kicking off with Jake Walman returning to the lineup Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators — the Oilers have been dealt another injury blow.

This time in the forward ranks, as winger Kasperi Kapanen is expected to miss a significant chunk of time due to injury.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch met with the media Tuesday morning in Ottawa, revealing Kapanen could be out for up to six weeks.

“Unfortunately, he’ll be out for several weeks. Right now, it’s looking up to six, so he’ll be unavailable for a while.”

Kapanen, 29, was forced out of Sunday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings after playing just five minutes and 43 seconds. He took seven shifts in the first period, and a 42-second shift to start the second, before leaving the game and not returning.

While a review of the game didn’t reveal any clear moment where Kapanen got injured, he went to lay a hit in the offensive zone on his second-period shift, instead colliding with the boards. The Athletic’s Daniel Nugent-Bowman reported that after the game, Kapanen was seen limping with a brace on his left knee.

“Kapanen’s been playing really well and giving us a little more energy, a little more speed, getting in on the forecheck,” Knoblauch said after the game. “I’ve really liked his game, so hopefully it’s not a long-term injury.”

Unfotunately for Knoblauch, that won’t be the case. Kapanen had appeared in all six games for the Oilers so far this year, notching two assists and laying 16 hits — the second most of any Oilers player. One of the teams most effective forecheckers and disruptors defensively, the Oilers will look for others to step up in that role.

Ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Senators, Knoblauch was forced to blend up the lines, elevating Leon Draisaitl to play with Connor McDavid and Vasily Podkolzin, as Matt Savoie filled Kapanen’s spot on the third line.

Kapanen was acquired by the Oilers on waivers from the St. Louis Blues last November. He’s appeared in 63 regular season games with the team scoring five goals and 15 points, adding three goals and six points in 12 playoff games. He signed a one-year, $1.3-million contract with the team this summer, keeping him from hitting the free agent market.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.