The Edmonton Oilers are reeling after captain Connor McDavid was sidelined due to a lower-body injury sustained in Monday’s 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The injury came just moments into the game, when McDavid collided with the boards after being tripped by Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski. McDavid attempted to return to the ice briefly but was soon ruled out for the rest of the contest and ultimately flew back to Edmonton for further evaluation.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch shared that McDavid would miss at least one game as the team awaits medical assessments. “He’s going to go back to Edmonton and get evaluated, and I’ll have something later tomorrow,” Knoblauch confirmed, adding that his absence puts the Oilers in a challenging position.
Kris Knoblauch told the media tonight that Connor McDavid is heading back to Edmonton for further testing on his lower body injury. pic.twitter.com/BRi9URhqd1
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 29, 2024
With McDavid out, the Oilers are turning to Leon Draisaitl to shoulder additional responsibilities. Draisaitl, expected to step into McDavid’s top-line role with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman, may leave a gap in Edmonton’s secondary lines, further straining the team’s depth. Knoblauch acknowledged the challenge, noting that while McDavid’s absence offers a chance for other players to step up, filling the void left by their captain will not be easy. “He’s your captain, your best player. It’s tough anytime playing without your best player,” he said.
Head Coach Kris Knoblauch provides an update on Connor McDavid & discusses tonight's #Oilers defeat to the Blue Jackets.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/JG4sZN1QXb
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 29, 2024
The loss to Columbus halted Edmonton’s two-game winning streak, dropping the Oilers to 4-5-1 on the season. Stuart Skinner made 19 saves in the effort, but Columbus took control with goals from Mikael Pyyhtia, Sean Monahan, and Cole Sillinger. McDavid, who leads the Oilers with 10 points in 10 games, leaves a sizable hole in Edmonton’s offense, adding to the frustration of a tough start to the season.
As Edmonton awaits updates on McDavid’s condition, fans and teammates alike are hoping for a swift return of their captain.
