Connor McDavid played through foot fracture in Oilers playoff exit
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid played through a foot and ankle fracture during their six-game playoff defeat to the Anaheim Ducks, head coach Kris Knoblauch has revealed.
The revelation came on Saturday during the club’s final media availability of the season following their elimination from the Western Conference quarterfinals.
Knoblauch confirmed that forward Jason Dickinson also battled a similar injury during the tightly contested series.
“Obviously, it affected their play,” the Edmonton head coach explained.
“But we have a lot of admiration for them for wanting to be out there, and contributing as much as they did during the playoffs.”
Pace severely restricted
The Oilers captain was a game-time decision for the fifth match of the series before ultimately taking to the ice with his teammates.
However, the Canadian admitted the severe injury heavily compromised his trademark explosive skating ability.
“My advantage is my speed burst, you know, that quick step,” he told reporters.
“I had none of that.”
Star duo question franchise direction
Beyond the physical toll, both the former first-overall draft pick and teammate Leon Draisaitl voiced deep concerns about the franchise’s current trajectory.
The Canadian outfit had advanced to consecutive Stanley Cup finals over the past two seasons and were heavily favoured to launch another deep postseason run.
Instead, their premature exit marked the first time since the 2020-21 campaign that they failed to advance past the opening round.
Draisaitl did not hold back when asked if he was worried about the underlying standards slipping within the locker room.
“We didn’t do a good enough job of properly winning games,” the German international stated.
“I am concerned because we are not trending in the right direction.”
Taking responsibility for regression
The dynamic attacking pair acknowledged that the rising power of the rebuilding Ducks has further complicated the fiercely competitive Western Conference landscape.
Despite achieving a seventh consecutive postseason appearance, the mood around the Alberta-based organisation remains sombre.
When informed of his teammate’s stark assessment, the injured captain fully endorsed the harsh critique.
“I agree with Leon that the organisation as a whole has taken a step back. I think that starts with me, that starts with Leon, we all can be better and we all need to be better.”
Connor McDavid