Huge Update on Connor McDavid's Return Timeline (& Other Injured Oilers)

Connor McDavid was back on the ice with the Edmonton Oilers at practice on Tuesday, as the team is set to begin a four-game road trip in Las Vegas. And insider Darren Dreger of TSN has provided a clear timeline on the return of the superstar.

The progress is good... They do believe that McDavid will be available before the start of the postseason. I think he's at least another week away, so the expectation is that he should be able to return to the fray in the final week of the NHL regular season.

The captain's progress could be seen during the morning skate, even though he was wearing the non-contact jersey.

McDavid joins the team for a skate in Vegas, wearing non-contact grey. pic.twitter.com/usJjxA3OBH
— Mark Spector🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@SportsnetSpec) April 1, 2025

The final week of the season would put McDavid back in the lineup sometime between Wed. April 9th's game, at home against the St. Louis Blues, and the final contest of the regular schedule the following Wednesday, April 16th, in San Jose against the Sharks. The penultimate game of the season is a huge matchup against the LA Kings, most certainly the Oilers' first-round opponent in the playoffs.

McDavid has been out since March 20th.

For goaltender Stuart Skinner, who took that knee to the head last Thursday, Dreger tells us that he is likely a week away, just a shade ahead of the captain, and the same goes for defenseman Mattias Ekholm, who has played in just four of Edmonton's last 12 games.

Also seen skating with the group at practice on Tuesday: Trent Frederic and Evander Kane. Neither of them are expected back before the aforementioned trio, however.