Oilers Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines – Draisaitl Out, Jarventie Returns and More – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are navigating a critical stretch filled with major adversity and massive opportunities. Here are the key storylines surrounding the team and their upcoming schedule for the week of March 22-29, 2026.

The Loss (and Hope) of Leon Draisaitl

The heaviest cloud over Oil Country right now is the status of superstar Leon Draisaitl. He suffered a lower-body injury last Sunday against the Nashville Predators and is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season.

The silver lining? Oilers general manager (GM) Stan Bowman recently stated he is “optimistic” Draisaitl will be fully recovered and ready to return for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in mid-April.

A Cutthroat Pacific Division Race

The Oilers (currently sitting at 34-28-9) are in second place in the Pacific Division, but it is an absolute dogfight. They are desperately trying to catch the division-leading Anaheim Ducks while fending off the Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, and San Jose Sharks. Pundits have noted that Edmonton’s remaining strength of schedule is slightly tougher than their divisional rivals, meaning the margin for error is razor-thin.

Roby Jarventie’s Second Chance

With injuries sidelining key forwards like Draisaitl and Trent Frederic — and illnesses temporarily sidelining others — the Oilers emergency-recalled 23-year-old Roby Jarventie from the American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors. Having battled his own serious knee injuries early in his career, Jarventie is getting a well-deserved second look in the NHL to provide crucial depth scoring for the bottom six.

Oilers Upcoming Schedule

The next seven days feature a gauntlet of vital Western Conference matchups. The Oilers hit the road for two games — including a trip to face the Utah Mammoth — before returning home for a pivotal divisional matinee against the Anaheim Ducks.

The games against Vegas and Anaheim are essentially “four-point” nights; winning these matchups directly steals points from the teams Edmonton is fighting in the standings. Navigating this week without Draisaitl will be a massive test of Connor McDavid’s leadership and the team’s depth.

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