The Edmonton Oilers might be missing Mattias Ekholm for their opening-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, but Connor McDavid insisted that last year's Stanley Cup finalists are not limping into the playoffs.
If anything, the team might be healthier than it appears.
“We have this like aura about us that we’re the walking wounded, but we’re just fine,” McDavid told reporters. “Everybody’s going to be ready to roll. Everybody is doing whatever they can. I don’t like this whole notion that we’re the walking wounded here. We’re ready to roll.”
Those comments come days after Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch gave an extensive injury report that made it sound like Edmonton might indeed be dressing a "B squad" for the playoffs. However, you might want to wait before counting out the Oilers just yet.
McDavid is healthy. And by the sounds of it, he is anticipating another long playoff run.
“I just don’t like the theory that people are counting us out," he said. "We’re a great team here; bumps and bruises along the way. We’re a great team when we’re healthy. And we are healthy."
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Unfortunately for the Oilers, injuries have plagued the team at the worst possible time of the year.
Ekholm isn't expected to be available in the first round. McDavid, who has appeared in 63 games, recently missed eight games with an undisclosed injury. Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman are banged up. Same goes for Jake Walman, Troy Stecher and Trent Frederic.
The bodies have been piling up to the point where the team was forced to play a game against the Kings earlier this week with what Phillip Danault described as a "B-squad."
"They just have their B-squad in trying to hurt us." 😳
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 15, 2025
Phillip Danault soudned off in the midst of a chippy Kings-Oilers game last night. pic.twitter.com/JkpeRlJv3n
However, don't expect the Oilers to pack it in when they face the Kings in the first round of the playoffs. Instead, don't be surprised if McDavid uses the injuries as a way to further motivate the Oilers, who many believe are the underdogs despite having defeated the Kings in each of the past three playoffs.
“Maybe it's good. Everyone's going to be rested,” said McDavid of having so many players miss so much time in the past month. "Would it have been nice to get some games with a full lineup? Sure, but like I said, not everything is as it seems.
“I've felt, personally, night and day better from before the injury, just in terms of rest. Not getting a break there with the Four Nations — which I'm not complaining about at all — I feel night and day better since the injury. I'm sure Leon's going to feel the same way.”
