Connor McDavid Timeline Return Update & Other Oilers Injury Intel
Before the Oilers played in Los Angeles (Saturday), McDavid skated, as he continues to do on the road trip, going out there every day, being consistent about it. And the word is, mid to late (this coming) week is the target.
McDavid has been out since March 20th. Two and a half weeks, and counting.
After their loss in LA on Saturday, with the Oilers now being four points behind the Kings for second place in the Pacific Division, with just six games to play, it's questionable whether they'd rush him to come back for the last few games that might be, ultimately, meaningless. With a third-place finish becoming more and more likely at this point, perhaps just resting McDavid (and even Draisaitl) might be the best course of action.
The Kings are just three points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for first place, so the Oilers' opponent in the first round is not cast in stone, but the lack of home-ice advantage just might be.
Health updates on Draisaitl, Frederic & Kane
"The bigger questions are what lineup the banged-up Oilers are able to ice by then and what state of post-season readiness they may be at," writes Kurt Leavin in the Edmonton Journal on Sunday.
As for Draisaitl, Leavin writes that he "is probably a full week away yet."
One bonus the Oilers did get in their disappointing 3-0 loss to the Kings, was the debut of Trent Frederic in an Edmonton uniform. He might not be 100% in coming back from his ankle injury, but as Leavins notes, Frederic "was highly competitive, agitating, and he sure seemed to have a nose for the net. If you liked the big, strapping forward in his first game, wait five more when the rust has worn off".
Evander Kane is also an option, he writes, to bring even more grit to the lineup for Game One of the playoffs.
Photo: © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
