Finally a silver lining in Connor McDavid’s vague injury!

It was recently reported in Edmonton that Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl would likely make a return from injury sooner than his captain Connor McDavid.

McDavid sustained what the team described as a lower-body injury during the Oilers’ 4–3 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday when he collided with defenseman Josh Morrissey. He missed the team’s past three games, and is expected to miss more…

On Thursday, Chris Johnston provided more details on the Oilers’ plan dealing with the captain’s injury, but also offered a much-needed silver lining in the worrisome situation on Insider Trading on TSN: 

“It’s still being worked through. I think that there’s certainly been no setbacks or anything that’s caused more alarm. But, they’re going to get through the next few days and I think at some point, coming out of the weekend, there might be a little bit more clarity on when McDavid will be ready to return to the lineup. Specifically, you’re looking at that trip next week. They go to California. Is he able to get in one or more of those games towards that trip? If not, they return home and Edmonton has five more games to conclude the regular season. I think there’s an expectation he’ll certainly be ready for those five. Whether or not he gets into a California game is what’s up in the air. But either way, the Oilers are viewing this as a silver lining. Obviously, he’s getting rest before the playoffs, and there still will be time for him to ramp up prior to that first round series beginning.”

The Oilers’ fanbase will take whatever positive detail they can get when it comes to the team and its infirmary. On Wednesday evening, goalie Stuart Skinner was accidentally hit by Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen and was forced out of the game. Edmonton later announced that they had recalled goalie Olivier Rodrigue from the American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors on an emergency basis for last night’s game against the Kraken in Seattle. The Oilers fell 6-1, with Rodrigue taking over in the third period for Pickard. 

We get why the Oilers and their fans need some silver lining in all of this, especially ahead of the postseason.