Connor McDavid’s return from his ankle injury could be sooner than anyone expected, as the Oilers captain revealed Monday he could return to the lineup as soon as this weekend.
McDavid, 27, was injured a week ago against the Columbus Blue Jackets when he was tripped entering the offensive zone, jamming his left skate into the boards. A few days later it was reported that he was expected to miss two-to-three weeks, but the Oilers captain took to the ice at Rogers Place Monday for an optional skate, revealing after he could return as soon as Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.
“It feels pretty good,” said McDavid after the skate. “Not too much limiting me on the ice. I’m happy with how it feels.
“When it first happened, you’re concerned it’s maybe something a little more serious, but thankfully I’ve got good news on it, and I’ve been doing every thing possible to make it feel better. I’m not just sitting around, waiting for it to feel better, I’m doing a lot of different things. The team here, the medical team here, the staff here, everybody is great and understanding that I’m always pushing to play and I’m trying to find that balance.”
He's Back @EdmontonOilers @cmcdavid97 pic.twitter.com/rI9M1EDjrH
— Gene Principe (@GenePrincipe) November 4, 2024
McDavid took the optional today. Return isn’t imminent—but may be slightly ahead of schedule. More day-to-day, didn’t rule out Vancouver. pic.twitter.com/1zFDJE09gJ
— Jack Michaels (@EdmontonJack) November 4, 2024
McDavid, meanwhile, thought there should’ve been a penalty on the play that injured him.
“It is a two minute penalty? Probably, but it’s just a hockey play.”
The Oilers will take his return to game action day-by-day, with the next step seeing how he responds to Monday’s skate.
A Saturday return would put him a week, to a week and a half ahead of schedule. A two-week timeline would’ve had him return in the middle of next week, potentially playing Tuesday against the New York Islanders or Thursday against the Nashville Predators, while three weeks would’ve put him returning around November 18th or 19th.
While the Oilers will undoubtedly be ecstatic for his return to the lineup, whether it’s Saturday or early next week, the team has looked excellent without him, securing a 5-1 win over the Predators last Thursday and a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames Sunday night.
Leon Draisaitl has led the way, scoring three goals and six points, contributing on six of the Oilers’ nine goals in the two games, while Zach Hyman has burst onto the scene with goals in each games.
Edmonton hosts the New Jersey Devils tonight, before the Vegas Golden Knights roll into town Wednesday.
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.
