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Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid will miss two to three weeks with an ankle injury, the team confirmed Wednesday.
McDavid left Edmonton’s 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday after injuring his ankle on his first shift of the game. He was tripped by Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski’s stick while crossing the offensive zone and his left leg collided awkwardly with the boards. McDavid left the ice alone and was ejected from the game after skating for just 37 seconds. There was no penalty on the play.
McDavid, 27, returned to Edmonton for further evaluation, and the team announced their captain “is expected to return to action in two to three weeks.”
Considered the best player in the world, McDavid is coming off a 132-point season with Edmonton in which he led the team to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final and won the Conn Smythe Trophy awarded to the most successful player. most useful of the playoffs. In his 10th season in the NHL, McDavid has 992 points in 655 career games. McDavid’s career average of 1.51 points per game is behind Wayne Gretzky (1.92) and Mario Lemieux (1.88) in NHL history.
For the second straight season, the Oilers are off to a slow start. Edmonton is 4-5-1 in its first 10 games, with a goal differential of minus-13. McDavid has 10 points in these games (3 goals, 7 assists).
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said McDavid’s absence provides an opening for other members of the roster.
“It’s more ice time, more opportunities,” he said after the Blue Jackets’ loss. “It’s tough any time you play without your best player, but it’s something we’re going to have to do. [do]. Obviously, our team is going to be different. »
