As far as Monday night’s go, yesterday’s was as bad as you could ask for if you cheer for the Edmonton Oilers.

Not only were they molly-whopped by the Columbus Blue Jackets but they also lost their captain Connor McDavid a mere 15 seconds into the game, when he was tripped at the offensive blueline, crashing hard into the boards. Besides looking at slow-motion video and there being an optimistic tinge in the air, what’s known about his injury is limited.

What we do know is this: he took one shift, kept his leg off the ice as he skated to the bench after being on the ice for 37 seconds, he has a lower-body injury, and is en route back to Edmonton for further examination.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch indicated after the 6-1 loss that the team would be making a recall, and the odds-on-favourite is likely to be Noah Philp, who had an excellent training camp and pre-season, winding up as one of the final cuts.

The truth of the matter is there’s no replacing Connor McDavid. He is, after all, the best player in the world. The obvious hope is that whatever ails him is just a short-term injury, and something which keeps him out of the lineup for as little time as possible. If it’s a longer-term injury, Edmonton’s season could very well be in jeopardy.

It’s not to say that an Edmonton Oilers lineup without him still can’t be competitive, and maintain a good pace in his absence. Leon Draisaitl will slide up to the first-line centre position, but the second-line centre spot could be up in the air. Does the coaching staff feel confident enough in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to return to the middle of the ice and drive a line, or could Adam Henrique slide up the lineup?

In recent years Nugent-Hopkins is a player who has elevated Draisaitl’s game. In their 424 minutes at 5v5 without McDavid between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 season, the Oilers have outscored their opposition 26-20, controlling 53.9 percent of the shot attempt share, 55.7 percent of the expected goal share and 54.4 percent of the scoring chance share.

Over the same years when Draisaitl is without Nugent-Hopkins or McDavid, he’s still fared well, but in 1166 minutes, has just broken even in goals at 54-54, while controlling 51 percent of the shot attempt share, 51.7 percent of the expected goal share and 51.4 percent of the scoring chance share.

Could a forward group like this make sense?

Nugent-Hopkins – Draisaitl – Arvidsson
J. Skinner – Henrique – Hyman
Podkolzin – Philp – Brown
Janmark – Ryan – Perry

With McDavid returning to Edmonton for further testing, it’s safe to assume he won’t be in the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Nashville Predators. The team will return to Edmonton afterwards, before heading to Calgary for a Sunday night soiree with the Calgary Flames.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist, making up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.