Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch provides critical injury update on Connor McDavid's injury

Connor McDavid left the game against Columbus after just one shift, following an awkward fall from an uncalled trip early in the first period. The Oilers confirmed midway through the period that he would not return, and McDavid was visibly favoring his left leg as he exited the ice. His left ankle seemed to hit the boards sharply during the fall.

Injuries are rare for McDavid; he hasn't missed more than seven games in any season since his rookie year, when he was sidelined for almost half the season. His most serious injury was in 2019 when he severely damaged his left knee in a game against Calgary, an injury many feared could be career-ending. But after a demanding offseason, McDavid returned for the Oilers' 2019-20 home opener. Last season, he also bounced back quickly after missing six games in October with an upper-body injury.

The Oilers can take some comfort in McDavid's history of quick recoveries, but there's concern. Head coach Kris Knoblauch shared that McDavid would head back to Edmonton for evaluation, which means he'll likely miss the rest of the current road trip.

In McDavid's absence, Leon Draisaitl will need to take charge, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Jeff Skinner, and Viktor Arvidsson must step up. Given that these players have only combined for three goals so far, they'll need to bring a lot more. With a 4-5-1 record and Monday's collapse after McDavid's injury, a prolonged absence could be disastrous for the Oilers.