McDavid at Oilers practice to make decision on returning from injury

Earlier this week, Oilers fans experienced a slight panic when McDavid was absent from practice with an injury. Thankfully, his health seems to have turned around quickly, but McDavid will still sit out tonight.

At practice today, McDavid was spotted on the ice for the first time since Monday, and he looks to be nearing a return to the lineup. McDavid was clearly going full out with some solo drills before an optional skate this morning, and looks healthy enough to play tonight against Arizona.



McDavid sustained a lower body injury sometime in the final ten minutes of the Oilers game in Calgary last week, but it was clearly a minor injury. Fans have pinpointed a few plays during that time where McDavid took some awkward falls, potentially causing the injury.

Knoblauch said earlier this week that if this were the playoffs, there'd be no doubt that McDavid would be playing through this injury. While he was on the ice looking to be in good shape today, Knoblauch also said they may be overly cautious and hold McDavid out one more game with tonight being the first half of a back to back.


To this point, McDavid is still officially listed as day-to-day and will be a game time decision for tonight's game against Arizona. In all honesty, the team shouldn't be concerned at all with a meaningless game against a bottom feeding team - only that McDavid is in peak health for the playoffs. For that reason, even though he looks great in practice, he may sit out one more game.


Additionally, Troy Stecher will draw in for Cody Ceci, who also missed yesterday's practice.