Yesterday word came out that Connor McDavid was back skating with the team. The crown jewel of the rebuild is weeks ahead of schedule, but we already knew that.
The reality of the situation is that if he is back skating with the team then it’s most likely that he’s already been skating for a while privately. From what’s been reported McDavid isn’t participating in any contact drills or even handling the puck. That time will come soon enough. Unofficially it sounds like the timeline for return is right around the All-Star break.
The Oiler schedule is pretty strange because they will have 8 days between games because of the All-Star weekend. They play Saturday January 23rd then not again until Tuesday February 2nd. So if Connor McDavid is iffy in late January then it’s likely he wont return to action until February.
I’m personally a little more hopeful that McDavid will be cleared for contact in early January and back before the All-Star break. I’m not one to advocate treating professional athletes like Grandma’s nice dishes. If he’s ready to play then he should be playing. That said, if he’s not then the Oilers have that extended time off.
To reiterate, I don’t have a problem with the Oilers using that time off for extra healing time if McDavid needs it, I’m just not entirely convinced he will need it. The team has been ultra hush hush about the kid even now. He’s an 18 year old elite athlete. They heal pretty quickly. Nobody wants him back before he’s ready, but people should be open to the idea that the timeline for return was too conservative.
LINEUP
McLellan made some changes to the lines yesterday and it looks like the Oilers should START with those changes, but we’ve seen McLellan change everything back after 2 or 3 shifts already this season. After 2 losses in a row it doesn’t shock me that the Oilers want to mix things up a little.
UPDATE
It looks like Pouliot is back so the forward lines will have a more traditional look to them.
Hall Draisaitl Purcell Pouliot RNH Eberle Hendricks Letestu Korpikoski Gazdic Lander Pakarinen
Nurse Sekera Davidson Gryba Nikitin Schultz
Nilsson
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Change. The Oilers could stand to use a little after the last two games. I’m interested in seeing Draisaitl back on the wing and Nuge up with the top unit. I’m a little skeptical of the 2nd line as it stands, but Hendricks has more skill than he’s given credit for and as a short term option he should be fine. It’s been Nuge and Eberle at the top of their games most recently, hopefully splitting them up will get both lines going and not fizzle out what they had going.
2) Hall. The Oilers are pushed forward by Taylor Hall and he has a history of playing particularly well against the Avalanche. Every team needs their best players to be their best players to win and Taylor Hall with the Oilers is no different. The team needs to win this game and stay in lockstep with the Flames and the godless Canucks. In order to do that they need Hall to continue his dominance against the Avalanche. There's something about playing the Avalanche that works for Hall. Hes better than a point per game against them in his career.
3) Fast Nate. Nate MacKinnon had a difficult sophomore year, as many NHLers do. Last year he picked up just 38 points and played in only 64 games. This season he is co-leading the Avalanche in scoring with 28 points in 33 games. During his rookie season his skill level was obviously great, but it was his speed that made me raise my eyebrows. Sometimes there are people who come into the NHL that are just a pleasure to watch. Sometimes there are certain skills that just make you smile when they are displayed. My guilty pleasure is watching the NHL’s fastest players at top speed in play (please get better soon, Connor). MacKinnon is one of those players who possesses a gift that brings people out of their seats. As far as the Oilers are concerned, they cannot afford to have the wrong defense duo out against him or they will be exposed. My vote is for Nurse-Sekera against him if not for anything other than Nurse’s skating ability.
Puck drops tonight at 8 PM Mountain Time on CBC. Get Better, Connor
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