UPDATE: Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch provided injury updates on several players including Connor McDavid yesterday during his end-of-season exit interview.
Many fans likely will not be surprised to hear that both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl played through some pretty significant injuries in these playoffs. Draisaitl in particular was hampered by injuries to his hand and ribs. It seems as though he may have had a broken rib and bone in his hand. Apparently it was so bad, Knoblauch and the rest of the coaching staff were not sure if he would even be playing on a nightly basis.
Kris Knoblauch said Leon Draisaitl had hand and rib injuries that left staff questioning whether he could play, while forward Evander Kane had a sports hernia and captain Connor McDavid was also playing hurt.
#yeg #Oilers
The Oilers head coach decided to play his cards close to his chest though. He would not give too many specifics about the injuries, especially those McDavid was dealing with. Many fans have speculated that he had some kind of hand injury though, due to his decreased shot volume in the last two series. He did confirm however, that Evander Kane had a hernia, which the forward admitted to himself before the playoffs even began.
Little in the way of injury details from Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch. He said Connor McDavid played through an injury but wouldn’t disclose it. He said Leon Draisaitl had a rib and hand injury. He said Evander Kane had a sports hernia, which Kane disclosed before the playoffs.
Knoblauch’s full discussion of the team’s injuries can be seen in the post below.
Kris Knoblauch provides an update on the injuries the Oilers were dealing with throughout the playoffs.
If McDavid and Draisaitl were not injured, who knows what could have happened? It seems quite likely that they would have won it all. Unfortunately, that is just part of hockey though. The Oilers will just have to wait for another chance next season. Hopefully, they will be fully healthy by the time the season kicks off.
