Oilers’ Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl undergoing imaging, expected to miss at least a week

Edmonton Oilers superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will both undergo medical imaging Friday as the club strives to better understand the severity of their respective injuries, reports Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.

Neither player will return to the lineup Saturday versus the Pacific Division rival Seattle Kraken, with both expected to miss about one week, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Friday per Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic.

Facing the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, McDavid exited late in the second period and did not return after suffering an apparent lower-body injury, while Draisaitl did not dress due to an undisclosed injury. The Jets ultimately prevailed 4-3 in overtime.

On the season, the duo sit second and fourth in league-wide scoring, with Draisaitl headlining the NHL with 49 goals and sitting second to only Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon with 101 points in 68 games. For McDavid, through 63 appearances this season the five-time Art Ross Trophy winner has tallied 90 points counting 26 goals and 64 assists. Last season, McDavid finished third in the scoring race behind Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Nikita Kucherov and MacKinnon as he notched 132 points counting 32 goals and 100 assists in 76 games.

Following Thursday’s overtime loss to the Jets, the Oilers stand 40-24-5 on the season and three points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for top spot in the Pacific Division.

The Oilers have qualified for the postseason in each of the past five seasons highlighted by a seven-game showdown versus the Florida Panthers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. In all, through 25 postseason appearances last spring, McDavid put up eight goals and 34 assists for 42 points, becoming just the third player alongside Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux to score 40 or more points in a single playoff run. For his efforts, McDavid was presented with the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.