EDMONTON — There are indications Connor McDavid might be able to return to the Edmonton Oilers lineup from injury earlier than initially expected.
McDavid took part in his first on-ice session with teammates on Monday — an optional skate ahead of a game against the New Jersey Devils — since sustaining an ankle injury a week ago.
“It feels pretty good,” McDavid said. “Not much limiting me on the ice. I’m happy with how it feels.
“When it first happens, you’re concerned that it’s maybe something a little more serious. Thankfully, I got good news on it. I’ve been doing everything possible to make it feel better. I’m not just sitting around waiting for it to feel better.”
McDavid left last Monday’s 6-1 loss in Columbus shortly after he was tripped by Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski and crashed into the boards. He was limited to 37 seconds of action and went back to Edmonton for further evaluation the next day.
On Wednesday, the Oilers announced McDavid was expected to miss between two and three weeks. The shorter end of that timeline would see McDavid return next Tuesday when the Oilers host the New York Islanders.
McDavid won’t play in Monday’s game against the Devils but hasn’t been ruled out for Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights or Saturday’s road contest versus the Vancouver Canucks.
“Hopefully it’s sooner than we initially thought,” coach Kris Knoblauch said. “Tonight, no. Day to day. Maybe a week.”
The Oilers are 2-0 without McDavid thanks to wins in Nashville and Calgary, which has improved them to 6-5-1 on the season.
Leon Draisaitl was the offensive catalyst. The 2020 Hart and Art Ross winner recorded back-to-back three-point games — three goals and three assists. Draisaitl was in on six of the nine goals the Oilers scored in the two games.
“He’s such a great player. He doesn’t get enough credit as is,” McDavid said. “It’s great to see him doing so well and helping the team win some games.”
“I’ve seen Leon really step up,” Knoblauch said. “He’s played extremely well in the two games. He’s been our best player. Offensively, we were pretty good all around.
“Our game needs to simplify and get more shots to the net and traffic and protect the puck in the offensive zone a little more rather than just being a one-and-done where you look for that strike — that pass to the slot and it’s not there, it gets picked off and now you have to defend.”
Even with the two wins and the offensive uptick, the Oilers remain one of the lowest-scoring teams in the NHL. They have 31 goals in 12 games, a 2.58 per game rate that puts them fifth from the bottom entering Monday’s action.
They’ve rejigged the lineup with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at centre between Zach Hyman and Jeff Skinner. Defenceman Mattias Ekholm has taken McDavid’s spot on a power play that had struggled. Knoblauch said putting two blueliners on the first unit has streamlined things and helped develop more of a shooting mentality.
Still, there’s no doubt the Oilers could use McDavid back as soon as it’s possible.
“We’re going to go day by day here and we’ll see,” McDavid said. “I felt good out there. We’ll see how it responds and go from there.”
(Photo: Brian Bradshaw Sevald / Imagn Images)
