Major update provided on Oilers Connor McDavid's health: it's not good

Head coach of the Oilers Kris Knoblauch has provided an update on the health of superstar Connor McDavid, and it's not good. He will miss some game action.

The biggest challenge for the Edmonton Oilers is to forge ahead in their season without star captain Connor McDavid. With a lower-body injury from a recent game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, McDavid has been sent back to Edmonton for further evaluation. This development came at what was supposed to be the most crucial time for the Oilers, who hope that the injury does not dampen their quest on the road for upcoming matches.

The injury occurred just a couple of minutes into the game, right after the puck dropped. On his very first shift of the game, McDavid was tripped by a Blue Jackets player trying to enter the zone. His left leg hit the boards awkwardly and he slid into the corner. Though McDavid popped back up onto his skates, he did not return to the game and was soon ruled out for the night.

Following the game, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said McDavid had returned to Edmonton for further testing. The remainder of the team headed to Nashville to take on the Predators, with the status of McDavid still undetermined. "Hopefully, it's good news," said Knoblauch, who offered nothing more about the severity of his injury.

The Oilers will obviously want to take the earliest possible opportunity to get McDavid back onto the ice, but while there's a slim possibility he could be medically cleared in time for the Nashville game, that's unlikely with a player evaluation required. Until then, the Oilers will have to hope their other big guns come through for them, particularly as they go into a rendezvous with their arch-nemesis, the Calgary Flames, after Nashville.

As the team waits for word on an evaluation of Connor McDavid, the Oilers understand full well how crucial he is to their hopes. McDavid is closing in on a major career milestone, with the captain's leadership and skill being very crucial to any playoff hopes of the Oilers. Meanwhile, the Oilers will have to push forward without their captain, hoping for good news from Edmonton soon.

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