How long is Connor McDavid out? Injury timeline, return date, latest updates on Edmonton Oilers star

Jace Mallory

•
How long is Connor McDavid out? Injury timeline, return date, latest updates on Edmonton Oilers star image

Connor McDavid is back.

Edmonton Oilers coach Dave Tippett told media hours prior to Sunday's game against the LA Kings that McDavid would return to the lineup after a two-week absence.

It was Feb. 11 when GM Ken Holland delivered the news that the Oilers' star forward would be missing time with a quad injury.

"He's going to be out two to three weeks; we're hoping less than that," Holland told the media. "It's the left leg, totally unrelated to the injury that he had this summer. The good news about having the MRI is not only did we see the quad injury but the doctors also had an opportunity to look at the injuries from this summer and everything looks great."

INJURIES: Mark Giordano | Shea Weber | Frederik Andersen

McDavid went down in the second period Feb. 8 against the Nashville Predators when he collided with defenseman Dante Fabbro and the boards. Holland reported he iced his knee between periods and did return for the third to finish the game. Afterward, the team announced the 23-year-old had a bruised knee and offered hopeful insight that their captain may be able to return as soon as three days later against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Tippett said after the game that McDavid told him that he was fine and that as far as he knew, "it is nothing serious."

However, he ended up missing just over two weeks. Here is everything we know about McDavid's injury.

How long will Connor McDavid be out?

The Oilers general manager said Feb. 11 that McDavid will be out of the lineup for two to three weeks, but "hoping less than that." Originally, there was hope that No. 97 would not miss a game considering he was able to return to finish the contest against the Predators on the night he suffered the injury.

"He has a little bruise on top of his knee or something like that," Tippett told reporters after the game. "They looked at it between periods, he iced it and they wanted to ice him right after the game. I asked him how he was doing and he said 'I'm fine, I'm playing.' He got out there and played. As far as I know, it is nothing serious."

McDavid skated early Thursday (Feb. 20), a sign that his return could be imminent.

Three days later, Tippett said McDavid would return to action against the Kings Sunday night. McDavid will play on a line with Sam Gagner and Alex Chiasson.

Connor McDavid injury timeline

On Feb. 8 against the Predators, McDavid got tied up with the Nashville defenseman Fabbro and collided with the boards, his knee taking the blow. He iced his leg between periods and returned for the third. After the 3-2 win, McDavid iced his knee again and the medical team assessed him, according to Holland. 

The next day, Holland reported that McDavid felt better but was still stiff and "a little bit swollen." Monday was more of the same before the team booked an MRI which showed the quad injury that is keeping him out of the lineup.

With the team headed on a road trip to Florida Feb. 12, McDavid opted to go to Toronto and be around "his team of people there and facilities" where he will do his treatments. He returned to Edmonton after a few days.

Holland assured reporters that this injury is unrelated to the one McDavid suffered in the final game of the 2018-19 season.

On Feb. 20, McDavid skated with his teammates in practice. Oilers play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels reported that McDavid will travel with the team on its three-game road trip to California and Nevada Feb 23-26, but it's still up in the air whether the superstar will suit up.

Tippett announced hours prior to the Feb. 23 game that McDavid would participate, skating on a line with Gagner and Chiasson.

Jace Mallory