The Edmonton Oilers are going to be without two of their biggest stars for the foreseeable future. According to Jason Gregor of Daily Faceoff, forwards Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are going to miss at least the next three games due to recent injuries.
The Oilers will face off against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, and finally the Calgary Flames on Saturday. Draisaitl and McDavid are expected to miss all three of those games as they continue to work their way back from injury.
The earliest that Draisaitl and McDavid could return is on Tuesday, April 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
McDavid suffered a lower-body injury in the team’s 4-3 overtime loss against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. The three-time Hart Trophy winner also sat out Saturday’s game against the Seattle Kraken. Meanwhile, Draisaitl’s injury has been undisclosed by the team, but he missed Edmonton’s last two contests.
While Draisaitl and McDavid missing time isn’t ideal, it appears as though neither player is in any danger of missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs next month.
Draisaitl is having a phenomenal season as he leads the league in goals (49) while registering the second-most points (101) behind only Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon. Meanwhile, McDavid has has the fourth-most points (90) behind only MacKinnon (105), Draisaitl (101) and Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov (98) while being tied for third in the NHL in assists (64).
Entering Monday, the Oilers sit third in the Pacific Division playoff race with 87 points.
The Edmonton Oilers will be without two of their star players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, for at least the next three games due to mounting injuries. This news comes as a blow to the team and their fans, as McDavid and Draisaitl have been instrumental in the Oilers’ success this season.
McDavid, who is widely considered one of the best players in the NHL, has been dealing with a lower-body injury that has been bothering him for some time. Despite playing through the pain, McDavid’s performance has been affected, leading the team’s medical staff to recommend that he take some time off to fully recover.
Draisaitl, on the other hand, has been dealing with an upper-body injury that has also been hampering his play. Like McDavid, Draisaitl has been playing through the pain, but it has become clear that he needs to rest and heal in order to avoid further damage.
The absence of McDavid and Draisaitl will undoubtedly be felt by the Oilers, as they are two of the team’s top scorers and playmakers. However, this presents an opportunity for other players to step up and fill the void left by their absence.
In the meantime, the Oilers will need to rely on their depth and teamwork to continue their winning ways without McDavid and Draisaitl in the lineup. It will be a challenging task, but with the talent and determination of the rest of the team, they will be able to weather this storm and come out stronger on the other side.
Ultimately, the health and well-being of McDavid and Draisaitl are the top priority, and it is important for them to take the necessary time to recover fully before returning to the ice. In the meantime, the Oilers will need to rally together and show that they can compete and win even without their two superstars leading the way.
