The bad news is Connor McDavid remains out with an ankle injury.
The good news? The Edmonton Oilers captain is at least back to skating with his team, having participated in an optional skate Monday at Rogers Place ahead of a game against the New Jersey Devils.
“It feels pretty good,” McDavid said. “Not too much limiting me on the ice. I’m happy with how it feels.”
McDavid is one week removed from getting tripped up by Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski just 37 seconds into what became a 6-1 loss on Oct. 28.
He got tripped up by Werenski’s stick and crashed feet-first into the boards before leaving the ice and getting ushered straight back to Edmonton while his team remained on the road.
But McDavid said there was nothing dirty about the play, which went unpenalized.
“No, nothing,” he said. “Is it a two-minute penalty? Probably. But it’s just a hockey play.”
The initial assessment had him sitting out for 2-3 weeks, and indications are McDavid will make his return closer to the early end of that estimate.
“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.”
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said he doesn’t yet have a specific date for a return in mind.
“I don’t. He was on the ice today, I have not talked to T.D. (Forss, head athletic therapist) but hopefully, it’s sooner than we initially thought,” Knoblauch said. “But tonight, no. And then day-to-day, maybe a week? We’ll see.”
Mathematically, that brings McDavid back in time to face the New York Islanders on Nov. 12, but the player could very well be aiming for Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks.
Mathematically, that gets McDavid back into the lineup in time to face the New York Islanders on Nov. 12, but the player could just as easily have his own timeline in place. One that may see him return Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks.
“Ultimately, it is my body and I’m always going to have a say in how things go,” he said. “But with that being said, the medical team, the doctors here have been here long enough and have been through enough of these things to know how the process works.
“You’ve got to listen to everybody and listen to your body, as well, and make the best call with all that information.”
The thing is, with the Oilers going 2-0 early in his absence, there has been no real push to rush him back.
“I thought it’s been great, two great wins,” McDavid said. “I thought they played great in Nashville, grinded one out last night (against Calgary) and a lot of positive stuff. It’s been good.”
At the same time, Leon Draisaitl has been lighting it up with six points (three goals, three assists) in those previous two games to sit atop the Oilers leaderboard with 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 12 games.
“Amazing, he’s such a great player and doesn’t get enough credit as is,” McDavid said. “So, it’s great to see him doing so well and helping the team win some games.”
Of course, that doesn’t make watching from the sidelines any easier on McDavid.
“He’s a competitor, he wants to be out on the ice. He wants to be helping the team win,” Knoblauch said. “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.
“All those top players, or any player, it’s in their DNA that they want to be on the ice for the games and helping their teammates. Any injury, whether it’s one or two (weeks) or months, it’s not easy for the players.”
‘We’re going to go day-by-day’
So, McDavid continues to focus on healing as best he can.
“We’re going to go day-by-day here. We’ll see,” he said. “It felt good today.
“We’ll see how it responds and go from there.”
The last thing he or the team wants is to come back too early and risk reaggravating the injury.
“There is a good balance, but I am always wanting to play and I always want to be out there with the guys and helping the team any way I can,” McDavid said. “You can only do that by being out there with them and that’s what I love to do, so I’m always pushing for that.
“Doctors are always pulling back on that a little bit, but we always find a good balance.”
E-mail: [email protected]
On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge
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