Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl taking brief leave of absence to attend to a family illness

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl is taking a brief leave of absence to attend to a family member's illness in Germany, the team announced Saturday.

The 30-year-old star is expected to return next week.

“Obviously, we’re going to miss Leon, and hopefully it’s not very long. And obviously we support Leon,” coach Kris Knoblauch said after Edmonton’s morning skate. “What’s going on right now, it’s an unfortunate situation.”

The Oilers asked for privacy on Draisaitl’s behalf.

Draisaitl ranks second on the Oilers — and fifth in the NHL — with 67 points (25 goals, 42 assists). He is on pace for his fifth-straight campaign with more than 100 points and won the Rocket Richard Trophy last season after finishing the regular-season with the most goals in the league (52).

Over 48 games this season, Draisaitl has averaged 22:05 in ice time and been a key piece on Edmonton’s potent power play, registering 31 points with the man advantage.

The German center had not missed a game in the 2025-26 campaign. The news came ahead of the Oilers game against the Canucks.

“Obviously we’ll miss him. But the job comes second,” said Oilers captain Connor McDavid. “Everybody in here is a brother, father, son, whatever it is, and that stuff comes first. He’s got to go home and be with his family and we’re obviously thinking about him and his entire family. We’ve got to take care of things.”

The Oilers are used to filling in gaps in the lineup, McDavid added, and saw several players take on added responsibilities when the team was beset by injuries last season.

“Lots of opportunity for guys to step up and make an impact,” he said.

After Saturday’s matchup against the Canucks, the Oilers host the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, followed by home games against the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals next week.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl stands with his dog before being honored for his 1000th point before an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl celebrates a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of an NHL game, in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Firefighters in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi battled a blaze Sunday at a multistory shopping plaza that erupted overnight, killing six people, including a firefighter, officials said.

The fire broke out late Saturday at Gul Plaza, spreading rapidly through shops stocked with cosmetics, garments and plastic goods, according to Dr. Abid Jalal Sheikh, the city’s chief rescue officer.

About 75% of the fire was extinguished, but crews needed another four to six hours to bring it fully under control, Sheikh said. Five bodies were recovered from the four-story building and its basement, which housed about 1,200 shops.

Rescue officials said a firefighter died while trying to extinguish flames on the upper floors. Sheikh said some people may still be trapped inside, as families continued searching for missing relatives.

Television footage showed dozens of firefighters in protective gear as thick smoke billowed from the damaged building. Parts of the structure collapsed during the fire.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, and an investigation will follow.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the deaths and ordered authorities to use all available resources to prevent further losses.

Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh province, has a history of deadly fires, often blamed on poor safety standards and illegal construction. In November 2023, a fire at a shopping mall in the city killed 10 people and injured 22 others.

People gather as firefighters try to control a massive fire that broke out in a multi-story shopping mall, in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Farooq)

People gather as firefighters try to control a massive fire that broke out in a multi-story shopping mall, in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Farooq)