The Edmonton Oilers’ playoff push took a major blow Thursday night against the Winnipeg Jets when captain Connor McDavid left the game after an innocent-looking collision with Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey. The play, which seemed harmless at first glance, occurred near the end of the second period as McDavid and Morrissey bumped into each other. McDavid appeared to grimace and favored his arm as he skated slowly to the bench before not returning for the third period.
Josh Morrissey gets a little bit of Connor McDavid, which causes McDavid some discomfort.
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) March 21, 2025
📹: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/neHzE6vcl8
The Oilers were already without superstar Leon Draisaitl, who missed the game with an undisclosed injury. Now, the team finds itself in the unthinkable position of missing not only their two best players but arguably two of the best players in the entire league.
So far this season, Connor McDavid has not been having the best year to his standards. Through 63 games, the Oilers captain has tallied 26 goals and 63 assists for 89 points. Leon Draisaitl has been dominant though, posting an incredible 49 goals and 52 assists in 68 games. Losing one of these players is difficult for any team to overcome. Losing both at the same time is devastating.
For the Oilers, this moment represents a critical test of their depth and resilience. With McDavid and Draisaitl both out of the lineup, it will be up to players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, and Viktor Arvidsson to step up and carry the load. The team will also look to younger players such as Matt Savoie and Noah Philp to make an impact.
This could also be an opportunity for the Oilers’ defensemen and goaltenders to show they can lock things down and win tighter, lower-scoring games. Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard will be relied upon even more heavily between the pipes as the Oilers try to weather the storm.
The Oilers have been one of the NHL’s top teams this season, but they will now face their toughest challenge yet. How they respond without McDavid and Draisaitl could determine whether they can hold onto a top playoff spot or find themselves slipping into a battle just to stay in the race.
Adversity has a way of revealing a team’s true character. Over the next few games, the Oilers will show just how deep and determined they are. For Edmonton fans, all they can do is hope that both of their superstars return quickly and that in their absence, the rest of the team is ready to rise to the occasion.