The Edmonton Oilers will be without their franchise player for at least game. After sustaining an injury in Tuesday’s game, Connor McDavid is being sent to Edmonton for further evaluation. The Oilers captain will miss Thursday’s game in Nashville.
McDavid Headed to Edmonton, Not Nashville
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters tonight that Connor McDavid is going back to Edmonton for further testing on his lower body injury.
Team plays in Nashville on Thursday.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 29, 2024
McDavid played just one shift Tuesday before tripping and leaving the game. The Oilers have not given detail about the injury other that it is a lower-body injury. Once McDavid has been evaluated, we can assume we will find out more about the injury, including a timetable for return.
Until then, this is a situation no one associated with the Oilers wants to be in. The 2024 Conn Smythe winner has recorded ten points in nine games so far this season.
McDavid Injury Calls For Lineup Shakeup
Head coach Kris Knoblauch will have to plan for Thursday’s game knowing their best player will not be available. Other plays will need to step up. However, the Oilers do have a former MVP in Leon Draisaitl. While is Draisaitl is not McDavid, he is someone the Oilers can rally around during McDavid’s absence.
Knoblauch will likely move Draisaitl up to the first line centre position to replace McDavid for Thursday. If this happens and they do not change the rest of the top line, Draisaitl will centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman. Next, Knoblauch will need someone to move up for the second line. Veteran Adam Henrique, who the Oilers re-signed this summer, could fill that hole while Derek Ryan can jump to the third line. Someone who has been a healthy scratch will need to join the lineup for Thursday.
Thankfully for the Oilers, they are a team who has much depth on their roster. While losing McDavid is a big loss, and it will be even bigger if he misses more than just a few games, the Oilers are equipped to move forward and still compete.
Stay Tuned
We will continue to provide updates as they become available. We assume there will be some sort of update tomorrow.
