Though the Edmonton Oilers will be without their captain for a few games, head coach Jay Woodcroft isn’t ruling out Connor McDavid for Sunday’s Heritage Classic in Edmonton.
“I’ve learned when it comes to Connor, nothing is off the table,” Woodcroft said to reporters on Monday. “I take the time frame that was put out there yesterday as good news. We’ll see how he does, he’s just got to get healthy here.”
McDavid suffered an upper-body injury on Saturday night against the Winnipeg Jets, which benched him for the final minutes of regulation and overtime. Woodcroft told reporters after the game that the injury seemed, to him, to be more muscular — something he also offered as good news on Monday.
McDavid was initially expected to be sidelined for one to two weeks, which would bench him for the Heritage Classic, to be played against the Calgary Flames in Commonwealth Stadium.
Regardless of whether or not the three-time Hart Trophy winner plays on Sunday, Woodcroft understands that the Oilers will use McDavid’s absence as motivation to improve on a less-than-ideal 1-3-1 record.
“You’re always looking for opportunities that present themselves to serve as fuel; this is certainly one of them,” the 47-year-old head coach said. “I think there’s been positive signs in our team game.”
You can watch the Oilers take on the Flames in the Heritage Classic Sunday on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ beginning at 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. MT.
