Edmonton Oilers superstar captain Connor McDavid is expected to miss two-to-three weeks with an ankle injury, the team announced Wednesday.
McDavid sustained the injury during the opening shift of the Oilers’ 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.
The three-time Hart Trophy recipient was tripped by the stick of Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski and went tumbling into the boards. No penalty was called on the play and McDavid did not take another shift in the contest.
“He’s our leader and also the best player in the game. So, of course you’re going to feel it,” Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said after the game.
McDavid flew back to Edmonton on Tuesday for further evaluation with the team having played its first two legs of a four-game road trip. The Oilers will visit the Nashville Predators on Thursday and the Calgary Flames on Sunday.
McDavid, 27, has recorded a team high-tying 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 10 games this season.
He is one season removed from posting 132 points and guiding Edmonton to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Florida Panthers. McDavid was named the Conn Smythe Trophy recipient as the playoff MVP.
A five-time Art Ross Trophy as the league’s point leader, McDavid has totaled 992 points (338 goals, 654 assists) in 655 career games since being selected by the Oilers with the top overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft.
