Oilers’ Draisaitl line clicking since Kapanen’s return from injury

Los Angeles Kings' Taylor Ward (52) and Edmonton Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen (42) battle for the puck during first period NHL action, in Edmonton on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.

Chemistry, Kasperi Kapanen says, “is weird.”

“You have it or you don’t have it,” the Edmonton Oilers winger said Monday in Chicago ahead of his team’s game against the host Blackhawks. “I certainly feel like we’re having it right now.”

“We” is Kapanen’s forward line alongside Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin, who collectively have 12 even-strength points between them in the three games they’ve played together as a unit ever since Kapanen returned to the lineup after 36 games recovering from an injury.

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The Oilers (22-16-7) are taking on the Blackhawks (19-19-7) starting at 6:30 p.m. MT for the first of a two-game road trip on back-to-back nights that concludes Tuesday in Nashville.

Kapanen has scored one goal and three assists for four points since returning to the lineup on Jan. 6 against the Nashville Predators. Draisaitl has six points (three goals – one of them on the power play – and three assists) in that span, while Podkolzin has three points (one goal, two assists).

“I think we’re a pretty heavy line, so we try to hold on to pucks, but I think all three of us skate really well, too,” Kapanen told media. “We also take pride in being good on the defensive side of the puck. We want to minimize the errors.”

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said he’s pleasantly surprised Kapanen has come back and had an immediate impact.

“The way we saw him skating and practicing, he knew he was ready to go physically, but to find your game, the timing, the puck play, I thought that would take a little bit more time, but obviously, there’s some chemistry (with Draisaitl and Podkolzin),” Knoblauch said. “Those three have played together. They’re familiar with each other. That line’s been producing pretty much right from the start together. Hopefully, they can continue doing that because they’re definitely helping us.”

Mangiapane in lineup

Andrew Mangiapane will draw back into the Oilers’ lineup in Chicago after being scratched the last four games.

The 29-year-old winger, who was signed to a two-year contract worth $3.6 million per season as a free agent last summer, has scored five goals and six assists for 11 points in 40 games but has scored just once in a little more than two months.

Knoblauch said Mangiapane returns to action while “feeling more comfortable with his game.”

“There have been some mistakes, but mostly it’s just puck play, not feeling confident making plays,” the coach said. “He’s a player who should be able to make plays. He’s an NHL veteran who’s put up a lot of offence. I think he’s in a good spot right now. He’s had a great attitude. He’s practiced really hard, couldn’t ask anything more from him. Inserting him back in the lineup, I think, will help us.”

Hutson signs extension

The Oilers have signed top prospect forward Quinn Hutson to a two-year contract extension.

The 24-year-old first-year pro leads all American Hockey League rookies in scoring (23 goals and 15 assists for 38 points in 30 games played) while skating for the Oilers’ affiliate Bakersfield Condors and sits second overall in league goal-scoring.

Hutson, whose brother Lane stars on defence for the Montreal Canadiens, joined the Oilers organization in April, when he signed a two-year, entry-level deal after three seasons of U.S. college hockey with Boston University.

Hutson has played four games with the Oilers as a call-up this season, scoring one goal.

Projected Oilers lineup

Forward

• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins • Connor McDavid • Zach Hyman
• Vasily Podkolzin • Leon Draisaitl • Kasperi Kapanen
• Andrew Mangiapane • Jack Roslovic • Matt Savoie
• Mattias Janmark • Curtis Lazar • Trent Frederic

Defence

• Mattias Ekholm • Evan Bouchard
• Darnell Nurse • Ty Emberson
• Spencer Stastney • Alec Regula

Goal

• Connor Ingram • Calvin Pickard

Projected Blackhawks lineup

Forward

• Ryan Greene • Connor Bedard • Andre Burakovsky
• Tyler Bertuzzi • Jason Dickinson • Ilya Mikheyev
• Teuvo Teravainen • Oliver Moore • Nick Lardis
• Ryan Donato • Nick Foligno • Landon Slaggert

Defence

• Alex Vlasic • Louis Crevier
• Wyatt Kaiser • Artyom Levshunov
• Matt Grzulcyk • Connor Murphy

Goal

• Spencer Knight • Arvid Soderblom