Edmonton Oilers
Connor McDavid Good to Go, Practicing With Oilers on Monday
In some Edmonton Oilers news, it looks like Connor McDavid is fine after an injury scare Saturday. He’ll be a full participant in practice on Monday.
Edmonton Oilers fans can breathe a little easier on Monday. In a bit of good news coming out Monday morning, Connor McDavid seems good to go after an injury scare in Saturday’s game versus the Nashville Predators. An unfortunate fall into the end boards during the second period had everyone worried he might have re-aggravated something in his recently rehabbed leg. The team and coach called it a bruised knee after the game and didn’t think it was anything too serious.
Sportsnet’s Mark Spector reports that McDavid is expected to take part in practice on Monday as a full participant and is showing no effects from the bump. McDavid was first out on the ice and the reports are the plan apparently was McDavid & Oscar Klefbom to get in a few reps at the start of practice, then get treatment. James Neal was not practicing today.
This is good news as it means McDavid will likely be in the lineup Tuesday as the Oilers meet the Chicago Blackhawks and are looking to secure top spot in the tight Pacific Division. It’s not a guarantee, according to Dave Tippett, but if it’s up to McDavid, he’ll likely want to go. McDavid downplayed things saying he wasn’t worried he re-injured himself and called it more a charlyhorse than anything.
The Oilers will also get back James Neal who should slot in alongside McDavid on that top line and is looking to get to 20 goals on the season, which would put him into the conditional part of his trade with the Flames, changing the Oilers draft pick compensation from the deal.
McDavid Bumps Are Scary
Any time a star player goes down, the fan base automatically worries. In McDavid’s case, after seeing his documentary, even a scratch may send Oilers fans into a tizzy, many of them hoping he’s not the most fragile player in the league considering the work he had to do to get back to the NHL.
But, this is the second time his leg has been tested in a matter of weeks (the first being a greasy hit from Mark Giordano). His knee is holding up fine so far which is a huge relief.
It’s also hard to know if the Oilers are being extra cautious about ensuring the media are up to speed on any potential injuries considering how much controversy was created by hiding the original issues over the summer. There is a sense the media aren’t sure what to believe.
In other news: the Edmonton Oilers did officially announce Darnell Nurse’s extension on Monday.
Related: Why Isn’t the NHL Protecting Its Young Players? The Case of the Canucks’ Elias Pettersson
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