Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid to miss two or three weeks after suffering an ankle injury during Monday night’s 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Oilers captain went down 37 seconds into his first shift of the game after being tackled by Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski. McDavid fell awkwardly onto the boards and did not return to the game.
Connor McDavid will not return after suffering a lower-body injury on the opening faceoff against the Blue Jackets.
McDavid’s shift only lasted 37 seconds. pic.twitter.com/iM0FiaN9w8
– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 28, 2024
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said after the game that McDavid would return to Edmonton to be evaluated. The team is currently on a four-game road trip that will end Sunday night in Calgary.
“He’s your captain, your best player. It should be an opportunity for guys to step up and say, ‘Oh, I got this,'” Knoblauch said. “It’s more ice time, more opportunities.”
Through 10 games, McDavid, the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner, is tied for the Oilers team lead in scoring (with Leon Draisaitl) with 10 points.
“He’s our leader and also the best player in the game. So, of course, you’re going to feel it,” Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said Monday. “We have to do a better job of stepping up when a guy like that goes down.”
Forwards Noah Philp and Drake Caggiula have been recalled from AHL Bakersfield.