Oilers’ Connor McDavid won’t require any offseason surgery

The Conn Smythe Trophy winner will avoid getting any offseason surgery and is expected to be ready for training camp in September.

This comes after our very own Zach Laing reported after Game 7 that Connor McDavid had been playing through the 2024 Playoffs with an abdominal injury. During the locker room cleanout, Kris Knoblauch confirmed that McDavid was battling a serious ailment but did not go into specifics about the severity of it.

It is also worth noting that Jeff Jackson did not go in-depth about McDavid’s injury when doing a media availability Thursday.

“We went through the medicals yesterday, and I have to sit down with T.D., our therapist, and review all that,” he said. “I don’t think any of that is finalized just yet. I wouldn’t comment on Connor or any other player at this point. We’ll have to see where that goes.”

We may never know the full extent of what he was going through in helping guide the Oilers to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, but the fact that it now seems like he won’t need to do any surgery over the summer is encouraging news. A healthy McDavid is vital to Edmonton’s success as was seen this spring and any time he is available they have a great chance of winning.

He is coming off one of his best seasons yet, where he finished with 132 points (32 goals and 100 assists) in 76 games played. It was during the postseason when McDavid elevated his game to new heights with a jaw-dropping 42 points (eight goals and 34 assists) in 23 games played, finishing with the fourth most points ever in a playoff run behind only Wayne Gretzky (twice) and Mario Lemieux.

Any way you slice it, McDavid is critical to the Oilers and knowing that he will be avoiding surgery this offseason is a welcome sight. Knowing just how motivated he will be to get another crack at the Cup only bodes well for the Edmonton faithful who are hoping to recapture the feeling from this spring.