Although the Edmonton Oilers have faced the absence of several key players during the final stretch of the regular season, captain Connor McDavid made it clear that doubting his team’s chances in the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs would be a mistake. With a first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings just around the corner, McDavid offered a determined and confident perspective.
When asked about the impact of recent injuries, including the absence of a crucial teammate whose return remains uncertain, McDavid acknowledged the setback: “I wish I could spin that one for you, but it’s obviously disappointing,” he said, according to NHL.com. “There’s no way around that. Obviously, we’ll miss him for a little bit. But that being said, he’s going to do everything he can to get healthy whenever that may be. He’s a great player, does everything right, maybe the best all-around defenseman there is. He’s a big loss, obviously.”
Still, McDavid remained steadfast in the team’s mindset heading into the postseason: “… Would it have been nice to get some games with a full lineup? Sure, but that’s not the case we’re dealing with.”
With a concise and impactful message, the captain summed up the team’s attitude in three words: “ready to roll.” He said: “But everybody is ready to roll, everyone is doing everything they can possible and not everything is as it seems.” In doing so, McDavid emphasized unity, preparation, and the resilience that defines a playoff contender.
Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on March 14, 2025 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
McDavid’s confidence in the return of key players
McDavid expressed optimism that most of the injured players will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round, which is set to begin Saturday against the Kings. “I don’t like the theory that people are counting us out,” McDavid said Tuesday. “We’re a great team here. We’ve had bumps and bruises along the way here, but we’re a dangerous team when we’re rolling and we’re healthy. I think you’ll see that over the next little while and we’re looking forward to showing that.”
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Connor McDavid orders Kings, rest of the NHL not to sleep on the Oilers in Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Oilers (47-29-5) are locked into third place in the Pacific Division, behind the Kings (48-24-9). Edmonton is set to close out its regular season with a game against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday before traveling to Los Angeles for the playoff opener.
McDavid and the Challenges
Despite recent injury setbacks that kept him out for eight games, McDavid feels physically ready and mentally focused on what lies ahead. With 99 points (26 goals, 73 assists) in 66 games, he is on the verge of recording his fifth consecutive 100-point season. However, when asked whether that personal milestone was a priority, his response was clear: “There is not much difference between 99 and 100,” McDavid said. “No, that’s not something that’s on my mind.”
