Oilers’ McDavid, Dickinson played through fractures during playoffs
A couple of members of the Edmonton Oilers were hobbled with ailments, including the game’s best player.
When speaking to the media at the team’s end-of-season media availability, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch revealed that captain Connor McDavid and forward Jason Dickinson were both playing through fractures to the ankle and foot areas during the team’s opening-round series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks.
Knoblauch says McDavid and Dickinson had fractures around the foot and ankle area.
McDavid appeared to have suffered an ankle injury after an awkward collision with teammate Mattias Ekholm during Game 2 of the Pacific Division Semifinals. The incident led to No. 97 briefly leaving the game, though he returned to log 24:07 of ice time in a 6-4 loss.
Despite clearly laboring for the remainder of the series, McDavid managed to still be one of the most productive players for the Oilers. He scored a goal and six points in the six games, finishing tied for third on the team in scoring. In the regular season, the Richmond Hill, Ont. native scored 48 goals and 134 points, clinching the sixth Art Ross Trophy of his career. He was also named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award and is expected to be in the running for the Hart Trophy.
It wasn’t initially reported what was hindering Dickinson, as the 30-year-old was absent for Games 2 and 3 of the series. He played in Game 1, scoring two goals, including the game-winner. The Georgetown, Ont. native posted three points in four games against Anaheim.
According to general manager Stan Bowman, neither McDavid nor Dickinson will require surgery, with the hopes that nothing carries over into next season.
The Oilers’ bowing out to the Ducks marked the first time Edmonton has been bounced from the opening round of the postseason since the North Division Semifinals in 2021.