The Edmonton Oilers are taking a cautious approach with one of their most reliable forwards as the regular season winds down.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed Saturday that Zach Hyman is dealing with an undisclosed injury that could keep him out anywhere from a few days to up to two weeks. The decision, he emphasized, is less about urgency and more about timing.

“If this was a playoff game, he’d be playing,” Knoblauch said after the morning skate. “We feel it’s best to give him some rest and let him be healthy and not aggravate anything. A lot of our players are going through something, but it’s something that wasn’t getting better and we wanted to give him some rest and can heal and then he can be 100 percent for the playoffs. Whether that’s five days or 14 days, something in that window, then we should be good.”

Hyman’s absence was felt in Edmonton’s 5–1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, though the bigger concern lies ahead. The 31-year-old winger has been quietly battling through the issue, including logging 16:40 of ice time in Thursday’s 3–1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. But as Knoblauch noted, the injury wasn’t improving — a red flag this close to the postseason.

The Oilers are hardly alone in managing wear and tear at this stage of the calendar, but Hyman’s situation carries added weight. With 31 goals and 51 points in just 57 games, he has been a cornerstone of Edmonton’s top six, providing not only scoring touch but relentless puck pursuit and net-front presence.

There was also a more encouraging update on Leon Draisaitl, who has been sidelined since suffering a lower-body injury against the Nashville Predators on March 15. Initially expected to miss the remainder of the regular season, Draisaitl is now projected to resume skating during the team’s upcoming road trip, which begins Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth.

That development offers a measure of optimism for Edmonton, even as uncertainty lingers around Hyman’s immediate availability. Draisaitl, who has amassed 97 points in 65 games, remains a critical piece of the Oilers’ championship aspirations.

For now, the message from Edmonton is clear: getting healthy matters more than squeezing out a few extra games in April. Whether that patience pays off will ultimately be measured in May and beyond.