It`s never a good time for the Edmonton Oilers to be without their key players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Fortunately for the team, this situation has been rare. Their recent 5-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken marked only the third instance in ten seasons where both McDavid and Draisaitl were absent from the lineup, and the first time due to injuries. Previously, they were rested during the regular-season finales of 2021-22 and 2023-24 before the playoffs.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch informed reporters on Monday that these star centers are expected to remain out of play this week. He also highlighted this period as an opportunity for other players to elevate their performance as the playoffs approach.
“We are hopeful that this will benefit us in the long run,” Knoblauch stated. “Of course, we prefer to have McDavid and Draisaitl in the lineup. In the short term, it makes winning and climbing the standings more challenging, and our goal is to win as much as possible. However, our collective aim is to be at our peak for the playoffs. This is paramount, and this brief period without those two might just allow other players to find their rhythm and improve their game.”
Tristan Blackwood