Leon Draisaitl’s back — and how — and that’s a good thing for the Edmonton Oilers and their hopes to finish the National Hockey League season in the best playoff spot possible.
That’s because their other NHL superstar might not be back in the lineup soon.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch on Sunday couldn’t say exactly when Connor McDavid will be playing again, suggesting the captain and three-time Hart Trophy winner as NHL’s most valuable player might not be back until near the end of the regular season.
“We know a ballpark when it’s going to be, and it’s not going to be the next game or two,” Knoblauch told media on Sunday following practice, acknowledging there’s just three weeks left until the playoffs begin.
“But he’ll be (back in the lineup) before the regular season is over.”
McDavid has missed the Oilers’ last four games after suffering what looked to be a lower-body injury in an overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets on March 20. Draisaitl returned to the Oilers’ lineup on Saturday, scoring twice — including the overtime winner — in a 3-2 win over the visiting Calgary Flames.
The Oilers (42-26-5 in 73 games) have nine games left on their regular-season schedule, which resumes Tuesday in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights in the first of a four-game road trip.
Edmonton sits third in the Pacific Division heading into Sunday’s NHL action, tied with the Los Angeles Kings (40-23-9 in 72 games) in points (89) but sitting a position behind the division rival in the standings as L.A. has one game in hand.
The Kings host the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night.
McDavid isn’t the only Oiler sitting out because of injury. Goalie Stuart Skinner, defenceman Mattias Ekholm, and forwards Evander Kane and Trent Frederic are also sidelined, with Skinner and Ekholm possible additions to the lineup “later in the trip” that sees the Oilers also face the Sharks on Thursday, the Kings on Saturday and the Anaheim Ducks on April 7.
Knoblauch said both Kane and Frederic are travelling with the team and will skate with their teammates.
