In the Edmonton Oilers' final game of the 2018-19 season, their captain, Connor McDavid, suffered a knee injury while sliding into the net.
Laying on the ice early in the second period, it looked to many fans as if McDavid was mumbling the words "it is broken," referring to his knee, which was later reported as an injury to his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) that would not require surgery — great news for the Oilers faithful.
How good are you at reading lips? Is Connor McDavid saying something broke? I hope not. pic.twitter.com/8ERrYbLkGz
— Ayaz (@sahyder1) April 7, 2019
Although their season was over without a playoff bid, the question of the 22-year-old forward's recovery timetable still loomed large. However, following an MRI, it was not expected that the four-year veteran would miss any time come September.
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According to WebMD, "The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is a ligament within the knee. Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect bones. The PCL — similar to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) —connects the thigh bone (femur) to your shin bone (tibia). Although it is larger and stronger than the ACL, the PCL can be torn."
Fast-forward five-and-a-half months and McDavid was back on the ice against the Arizona Coyotes in the Oilers' fifth preseason game.
Logging the second-most time-on-ice among Oilers forwards with 19:42, McDavid had ample opportunity to test out his knee compared with the speed of competition. In what was ultimately a quiet night for the center, having recorded two shots and one blocked shot, McDavid's impact was mostly felt in the face-off circle where he won 10 of 13 contests.
The Oilers fell to the Coyotes, 4-2, but with their leader back healthy and on the ice, this preseason loss feels more like a victory.
Last season was arguably McDavid's best with career-highs in points (116) and assists (75) while tying his career-high in goals (41). The 2017 Hart Trophy winner was once again a finalist in 2019 but finished third in voting behind Nikita Kucherov and Sidney Crosby.
The Oilers open their season at home against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 2 at 10:00 p.m. ET.