The Oilers returned to the ice last night to play the Columbus Blue Jackets after a dismal start to the season. Edmonton is currently ranked sixth in the Pacific Division after losing 6-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Connor McDavid, their captain, had to leave the ice after an awkward collision with the boards, so they lost much more than just the game.
The Edmonton Oilers' greatest task this season is to continue playing without their star captain, Connor McDavid. McDavid has been sent back to Edmonton for additional testing due to a lower-body injury.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch announced after the game that McDavid had gone back to Edmonton for additional testing. With McDavid's condition still unknown, the rest of the team traveled to Nashville to play the Predators. Knoblauch stated, "Hopefully, it's good news," without providing any additional information regarding the extent of his injury.
The Oilers will undoubtedly want to get McDavid back on the ice as soon as possible, but even though there's a remote chance he could be medically cleared in time for the Nashville game, that's unlikely given the need for a player evaluation. In the interim, the Oilers will need to hope that their other key players perform well, especially since they will be facing their bitter rival, the Calgary Flames, following Nashville.
In 2019, McDavid suffered his most serious injury when he nearly destroyed his left knee against Calgary in the last regular season game. McDavid only needed one exhausting offseason to recover for the Oilers' 2019-20 home opener, despite the fact that the injury was widely reported to be catastrophic and capable of ending careers.
Throughout his career, McDavid has demonstrated his ability to recover swiftly from injuries. He demonstrated it last year, in 2019, and in his rookie season, when he missed just 37 games due to a broken clavicle.
To put it simply, the Oilers would suffer greatly if McDavid were to miss a significant amount of time. They are already making an effort to recover from a 4-5-1 record, so they will need to put in even more effort if they are sidelined for a long time without their captain.
McDavid is nearing a significant career milestone, and the Oilers' chances of making the playoffs greatly depend on the captain's skill and leadership. The Oilers will have to continue playing without their captain in the interim while they wait for positive news from Edmonton.
POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 29 | 86 ANSWERS Kris Knoblauch Provides Injury Update on Oilers Captain Connor McDavid Should fans be worried about Connor McDavid's injury? | ||
Yes | 56 | 65.1 % |
No | 30 | 34.9 % |
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