Connor McDavid made his long-awaited return to the Edmonton Oilers lineup on Wednesday after missing three games due to an ankle injury. The injury, which occurred in the first minute of a 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 28, initially had McDavid sidelined for 2-3 weeks. While he did not register any points in the Oilers’ 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, his return was still a welcome sight for the team. Head coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged McDavid’s strong skating and integration into the team, despite not having participated in full-contact practice before his return.
McDavid’s return came with a slightly limited workload, playing 21:02 minutes on a line with Zach Hyman and Jeff Skinner. He had two shots on goal and won 8 of 13 face-offs, finishing the game with a minus-1 rating. Knoblauch commented that, while McDavid’s conditioning remained in good shape, they were cautious not to overload him in his first game back. The team ensured his ice time didn’t exceed what was necessary to avoid any setbacks, keeping him at a manageable level after his absence.
This season, McDavid has already registered 10 points, including three goals and seven assists, in just 11 games. His return is particularly significant as he is now just eight points away from reaching 1,000 career points. His importance to the team was emphasized by defenseman Brett Kulak, who expressed that McDavid’s unique abilities and leadership bring something no other player in the league can replicate. The Oilers were relieved to have him back, as his presence is crucial to their success on the ice.
In the game against the Golden Knights, McDavid, along with Leon Draisaitl, was effectively contained by Vegas’ defense. Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy discussed their strategy of limiting McDavid’s speed through the neutral zone, which forced him to pass the puck instead of using his explosive skating to create scoring opportunities. As a result, McDavid and Draisaitl were both kept off the scoresheet, a rare occurrence for the two star players.
Looking ahead, McDavid is expected to be in the lineup when the Oilers face the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. His teammate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins underlined McDavid’s leadership and significance to the team, calling him the “best player in the game” and stating that his presence makes a big difference. Despite the loss to Vegas, McDavid’s return is seen as a positive step for the Oilers, who are hopeful that his leadership and skill will help turn their season around.
