Don Cherry Issues Connor McDavid Message to Oilers Fans
Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid is one of the best active players in the NHL but he missed Saturday’s game and his return to the ice following Thursday’s injury is still unclear.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman provided an update on McDavid’s and Leon Draisaitl’s injuries on Saturday, saying “the word at this point” is that the Oilers have “no worries that these are long-term ailments that will threaten their playoff availability in any way.”
NHL legend Don Cherry shared his thoughts on McDavid’s injury on his “Gravepine Podcast,” delivering a clear message to Oilers fans worried about those injuries, pretty much echoing Friedman’s report.
“McDavid and Draisaitl-they take the week off,” Cherry said. “No, not (concerned) at all. They’re still practicing, doing everything the same. “No, don’t panic. If they were fighting for a playoff spot, they’d probably be playing.” Cherry dismissed concerns about the recent injuries to the Oilers’ two stars, emphasizing that both are taking a short break and could play if playoff positioning were at stake.
McDavid suffered his lower-body injury during Thursday’s overtime loss to the Jets after colliding with Josh Morrissey. Draisaitl missed the game against the Jets with an undisclosed injury suffered two nights earlier in a 7–1 win over Utah.
Although Cherry believes both players would be on the ice if the team truly needed them, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Friday that both players are “probably up to a week” away from returning and ruled out risking a setback no matter the situation.
“Even if it was game 5 or 6 (of a playoff series), we wouldn’t want to put somebody in a position where they’re going to make themselves worse who had a nagging injury,” Knoblauch said. The Oilers (41-24-5) return to action on Wednesday as they will play the Dallas Stars before going on the road to play the Kraken in Seattle on Thursday. Related: Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Injury Timelines Revealed by NHL Insider
Don’t panic’: Don Cherry with wise words on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl injuries
Hockey’s most venerable commentator Don Cherry sees the bright side of injuries to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
On his Grapevine podcast, he had two words of advice for fans of the Edmonton Oilers: “Don’t panic.”
The two superstars will be able to rest, practicing with the team, but not playing.
On the other hand, Cherry said to his son Tim, the show’s host: “You know what gets me, tho. If I had paid big money to take you to the game — and they’re not playing.”
As for the Stanley Cup, Cherry said he’s still picking the Toronto Maple Leafs to win and said he still believes the Calgary Flames will make the playoffs.
My take
1. I’m cool with McDavid and Draisaitl getting a rest, but with one major proviso — that when they do come back they don’t just say they’re 100 per cent ready, but they are in fact fact fully healthy, a season of aches and pains healed up. If that takes a few weeks, so be it. I’m a firm believer the Oilers will win the Cup this year if their best players are healthy through the playoffs — something that hasn’t come close to happening in the past three seasons — and if the team buckles down and plays championship level defence, as it did in the 2024 playoffs for the first time.
2. If McDavid and Draisaitl are out, I’m not expecting any winning streaks. The Oilers will lucky to win as many as they lose. They were lucky to beat Seattle on Saturday. The Kraken had 16 Grade A shots to 15 for the Oilers, with the subset of the most dangerous 5-alarm shots nine-to-five for the Kraken. Yes, Stuart Skinner let in four goals but he outplayed his Seattle competition, which is usually a signal for the Oilers to win.
