Connor McDavid did not play on Monday night, but he did participate in an optional morning skate earlier in the day, ahead of his Edmonton Oilers’ game against the New Jersey Devils in Edmonton.
It was the first time that McDavid has skated since injuring his ankle in a game at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 28, when the star center tripped over the stick of Columbus defenseman Zack Werenski and fell into the boards.
“It feels pretty good,” McDavid said. “Not too much limiting me on the ice. I’m happy with how it feels.”
It was originally thought that he would miss two-to-three weeks. Monday night’s game — which the Oilers lost 3-0 — was the third that McDavid has missed. They won their previous two games without him.
“When it first happens, obviously you’re concerned that it’s maybe something a little more serious,” he said. “But thankfully we got good news on it, and I’ve been doing everything possible to make it feel better.
“I’m not just sitting around waiting for it to feel better. I’m doing a lot of different things and honestly the team here, the medical staff, everybody’s great and understanding that I’m always pushing to play and trying to find that balance.”
McDavid has three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 10 games this season.
There is no specific date for his return.
“I have not talked to TD (Forss, head athletic therapist), but hopefully it’s sooner than we initially thought,” Oilers’ coach Kris Knoblauch said. “. . . Maybe a week? We’ll see. … He’s a competitor, he wants to be out on the ice. He wants to be helping the team win. And obviously he knows his body and the doctors are giving him their medical advice, and ultimately, it’s going to come down to when the doctors think it’s best for him to come back.”
McDavid led Edmonton to the Stanley Cup Final last season, in which the Oilers lost in seven games to the Florida Panthers. Despite the loss he still won the Conn Smythe Trophy, which goes to the Stanley Cup Playoffs’ Most Valuable Player, by amassing 42 points (eight goals, 34 assists) in 25 games. McDavid has also won five Art Ross Trophies as the NHL’s leading regular-season point producer and three Hart Trophies as the regular-season MVP.
