Report: Oilers’ Connor McDavid to return on Wednesday against Blues
Contrary to what was reported earlier, the game’s best player is back in the lineup.
Per Chris Johnston of The Athletic, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid will return to the lineup on Wednesday night when the team hosts the St. Louis Blues.
Big news developing in Edmonton: Hearing that Connor McDavid will return to the #oilers lineup tonight against St. Louis.
McDavid has been sidelined with injury since March 20.
Sportsnet’s Mark Spector confirmed that McDavid will dress, but a final decision will be made following pregame warmups.
It’s a very unexpected development since Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch proclaimed after morning skate that McDavid would miss Wednesday night’s game, citing that he and fellow superstar would miss the next few days to a week while recovering from their respective injuries.
Draisaitl remains inactive for Edmonton’s meeting with St. Louis. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was also revealed to miss the game due to an illness.
McDavid has been out of action since suffering an injury against the Winnipeg Jets on March 20. The Richmond Hill, Ontario native has missed the Oilers’ last eight contests, in which the team has gone 4-4-0 over that span. He’d been practicing frequently with the team over the past few days.
In total, McDavid has missed a total of 14 games due to injury and a three-game suspension. Yet, he’s still one of the best scorers on the Edmonton roster by far. In 63 appearances, he’s scored 26 goals and 64 assists for 90 points, only trailing Draisaitl for the team lead in scoring. McDavid’s currently ninth in the NHL in points, sitting sixth in assists.
Prior to the injury, the 28-year-old was one of the hottest players in the NHL, producing a 13-game point streak, scoring 19 points during that stretch.
While some question the need for McDavid to return to action, wondering if rest will do the all-world player some good, the Oilers could use the first-overall pick to help secure a postseason spot. With a win over the Blues and the Calgary Flames losing in regulation to the Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton will earn a berth in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Oilers (44-28-5) are third in the Pacific Divison, four points behind the second-place Los Angeles Kings.