NHL insiders outline exact return dates of multiple Edmonton Oilers
Photo credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
Oilers insider Bob Stauffer and Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli gave their takes on when the Edmonton Oilers will receive reinforcements from their star players who have been injured over the past couple of weeks.
The team has been waiting for the arrival of Trent Frederic, Connor McDavid, Mattias Ekholm, Evander Kane and Leon Draisaitl who all have been dealing with injuries that have kept him out of the lineup for several games.
Stauffer and Seravalli layout the potential timeline of injured Oilers return
Here's the tentative schedule of return set out by Stauffer and Seravalli:
Saturday April 5 vs Los Angeles Kings (Frederic possible)
Monday April 7 vs Anaheim Ducks (Frederic likely) (McDavid possible)
Wednesday April 9 vs St. Louis Blues (Ekholm possible) (McDavid likely)
Friday April 11 vs San Jose Sharks (Ekholm likely)
Sunday April 13 vs Winnipeg Jets (Draisaitl possible)
Monday April 14 vs Los Angeles Kings (Draisaitl likely)
Wednesday April 16 vs San Jose Sharks - Final Game
Saturday April 5 vs Los Angeles Kings (Frederic possible)
Monday April 7 vs Anaheim Ducks (Frederic likely) (McDavid possible)
Wednesday April 9 vs St. Louis Blues (Ekholm possible) (McDavid likely)
Friday April 11 vs San Jose Sharks (Ekholm likely)
Sunday April 13 vs Winnipeg Jets (Draisaitl possible)
Monday April 14 vs Los Angeles Kings (Draisaitl likely)
Wednesday April 16 vs San Jose Sharks - Final Game
He's out short-term, but we don't have a time frame... Don't believe it's going to be something that's going to head into the playoffs. We think he's gonna be back well before that.
Coach Knoblauch on Leon Draisaitl's injury.
Coach Knoblauch on Leon Draisaitl's injury.
With this many star players out, it will be a welcome site for Oilers management and the coaching staff to receive them.
However, the Oilers will likely need all seven games that remain in the regular season to help shuffle the lines and see how chemistry could be affected as their lines have been working in their current format for the past couple of weeks as Seravalli states.
However, the Oilers will likely need all seven games that remain in the regular season to help shuffle the lines and see how chemistry could be affected as their lines have been working in their current format for the past couple of weeks as Seravalli states.
«That's a huge influx in talent to try to get eveyrone on the same page and clicking Trying to ger everyone firing on all cylinders is not easy.» Frank Seravalli
Oilers preparing for final stretch of games
The Oilers, meanwhile, continue to prepare for their last seven games of the season and their first round against the Los Angeles Kings. The team is trying to win home ice advantage and remains 2 points behind the kings for second place in the Pacific division.
There is still an outside chance that the Oilers could catch the Vegas Golden Knights as the team has lost two games in a row and the Oilers have won three straight.
Though the prospect is slim, it should provide a photo finish especially if the Oilers continued to win at the clip they've been at over the last several games.
Oilers fans will get a preview of their potential first round matchup as the Oilers are on their three-game road trip and set to face off against the Kings on April 5th at 4:00 PM eastern.
Source: Edmonton Journal
Insiders spell out tentative timeline for return of star Edmonton Oilers
Insiders spell out tentative timeline for return of star Edmonton Oilers
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AVRIL 5 | 612 ANSWERS NHL insiders outline exact return dates of multiple Edmonton Oilers Do you think the mass return of injured Oilers will affect team chemistry just before the playoffs? | ||
| Yes | 276 | 45.1 % |
| No | 336 | 54.9 % |
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