NHL insider shares update on Oilers' Connor McDavid.

The Edmonton Oilers have been without their most valuable player for 3 straight games now and with the Stanley Cup playoffs right around the corner this is becoming something of a cause for concern.

Oilers captain Connor McDavid's 3 games absence has knocked him out of the race for the Art Ross Trophy this season and it has likely cost him more than a few votes when it comes to Hart Trophy nominations as well, but the biggest concern of all of course is whether or not McDavid will be healthy enough to return in time for those aforementioned playoffs.

On Saturday night, National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Oilers do believe McDavid will be back in time for the playoffs, but it sounds like there's a lot more doubt when it comes to the final games of the regular season.

"The Oilers say he will be ready for the playoffs," revealed Friedman on Saturday night. "It will be up to McDavid this week to decide how he wants to handle, and whether he's well enough to handle, the final three games of the regular season."

You have to believe that both the Oilers and McDavid will exercise an abundance of caution in this situation, especially given the fact that any personal accolades he may have achieved are now seemingly well out of reach. Keeping that in mind, I wouldn't be surprised if the Oilers make the decision to rest their captain for the final stretch of the regular season with the goal of having him 100% healthy in time for the Stanley Cup playoffs.