McDavid is sick and tired of people writing off the Edmonton Oilers
Connor McDavid is tired of people taking pity on the Edmonton Oilers.
The team has been limping toward the playoffs in recent weeks with a laundry list of injuries knocking key players out of the lineup. It’s been so bad that Edmonton has been forced on multiple occasions to ice a short-handed team.
With the playoffs just days away, concern is growing that all these injuries might cut the Oilers’ Stanley Cup hopes short. While that may be a valid concern for fans, McDavid is having none of it.
The Oilers captain was out on Rogers Place ice for a skate on Tuesday morning and met with the media after where he talked about all the injuries.
“Guys are healthier than it may seem,” McDavid said. “I don’t like this whole notion that we’re the walking wounded here; we’re ready to roll.”
“Everybody is going to be ready to roll, everybody is doing whatever they can.”
"I don't like this whole notion that we're the walking wounded. We're ready to roll."
Captain Connor spoke with the media after today's #Oilers practice before their flight to San Jose for Wednesday's regular season finale vs. the Sharks.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/ZNLfj7hPPf
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 15, 2025
The Oilers will be opening up the playoffs on the road for the first time since 2006. Their opponent will be the LA Kings for the fourth year in a row. While it would be easy to bow out and blame the injuries, McDavid is not going to let his time have any excuses not to be playing at the top of their game once Game 1 rolls around.
He is hoping that people will stop doubting the Oilers along the way.
“I just don’t like the theory that people are counting us out,” McDavid said. “We’re a great team here, bumps and bruises along the way obviously, but we’re a dangerous team when we’re rolling and we’re healthy, and we are healthy.
“I think you’ll see that over the next little while, and looking forward to showing that.”
McDavid was part of that “walking wounded” until fairly recently having missed eight games with an undisclosed lower-body injury before returning dramatically last week. He did not suit up in Monday night’s 5-0 loss to the Kings as a precaution.
One thing is for certain: McDavid is confident he will be more than ready to go once the playoffs hit.
“I’ve felt, personally, night and day better from before the injury just in terms of rest,” McDavid said. “I’m sure Leon [Draisaitl] is going to feel the same way; everybody is going to feel the same way coming out of that.
“We’ll be ready to roll.”