Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl is trending towards being back in the lineup right as the team will need him most.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said he expects the star centre to return early in the first round at some time while speaking to reporters Monday.
This timeline lines up with an update Knoblauch gave last week regarding Draisaitl.
"And then playoffs, sometime in that first round if things go well," the Oilers coach said.
The 30-year-old Draisaitl has been out since he was forced to leave a March 15 game with a lower-body injury.
He had put up 35 goals and 97 points in 65 games played before being forced out of the lineup.
Knoblauch also mentioned on Monday that Zach Hyman, who left an April 4 game with an injury, could play during Edmonton's regular-season finale on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks.
Jason Dickinson, who was injured against the San Jose Sharks on April 8, would be doubtful for Game 1 of the playoffs for Edmonton as well.
The Oilers play the Colorado Avalanche in the penultimate game of their regular season Monday.
Edmonton has already clinched a playoff berth, but is still jockeying for final playoff seeding.
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on Saturday.
