Oilers Coach Knoblauch Puts New Timeline on Connor McDavid Injury

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Liam McCormick
November 2, 2024 (12:56)

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Oilers superstar Connor McDavid has only missed one game with an ankle injury so far, but according to Coach Knoblauch, he may be back sooner than expected.

McDavid jammed his ankle into the boards during his first shift against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and then had to leave the team's road trip to return to Edmonton for rehab. The initial timeline for McDavid was 2-3 weeks until he could return, but now Coach Knoblauch is saying it will be closer to two weeks.

This is obviously fantastic news for the Edmonton Oilers. The superstar even put in additional work on his own to recover as fast as possible, as McDavid flew in his own personal team of trainers to assist in his recovery. Getting him back on the ice as fast as possible is the priority.

It was a scary scene in Columbus when McDavid left with the injury. Looking at the injury in slow motion, McDavid jammed his ankle into the boards incredible awkwardly. He was able to skate to the bench, but with injuries like those, the major concern is structural damage that could hold a player out for months.

There hasn't been an official confirmation of the injury, but most sources believe that McDavid suffered a low-grade high ankle sprain. Typical recovery time is between 1-3 weeks, so it's very possible that McDavid could make an early return. It was projected he may miss 6-11 total games, so hopefully, it's closest to just 6.

The Oilers will still have some big tests against contending teams like the Vegas Golden Knights, New Jersey Devils, and Vancouver Canucks that they'll likely play without McDavid. This stretch of time the Oilers should focus on playing a full team game, and be a stronger team because of the experience when McDavid returns.