SportsHockeyOilers

McDavid banged up? Oilers captain admits he's dealing with 'hips and groin stuff'

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
|
Mar 23 2026, 9:35 pm
McDavid banged up? Oilers captain admits he's dealing with 'hips and groin stuff'
Perry Nelson/Imagn Images

Connor McDavid left practice early on Monday.

The Edmonton Oilers captain reportedly skated for about 10 minutes before exiting the ice at Rogers Place, prior to the team flying to Utah for Tuesday’s game.

McDavid spoke to reporters after practice, and it doesn’t sound like he’ll miss any game time. That’s the good news.

But while McDavid denied that he was “banged up,” he did admit that he’s dealing with something.

“Just hips and groin stuff, it’s all good,” McDavid said, downplaying the ailment.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said that McDavid could have taken a maintenance day, but wanted to “touch the ice.”

“I haven’t heard from the trainer, so I’m not sure the severity of it… He wanted to go on the ice, check it out,” Knoblauch said.

“He was on the line of taking a maintenance day.”

It goes without saying that the Oilers could ill-afford to lose McDavid at any time, but that’s especially true right now. Edmonton is already missing Leon Draisaitl, and has work to do to secure a playoff spot.

Currently third in the Pacific Division, the Oilers are five points back of the Anaheim Ducks for the division lead. They’re also just four points up on the Los Angeles Kings, who are currently out of a playoff spot. The Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks are also looking to squeak in from the Pacific.

nhl standings west mar 23 2026

The Oilers are thankful to be in the Pacific Division this season.

McDavid also addressed his comments on Saturday, when he praised the coaching of the Tampa Bay Lightning head coach, Jon Cooper.

Given that it came after a second-straight multi-goal loss, some wondered if this was an indirect shot at his own team.

“Not sure how it was taken that way. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. But I understand how people could look at it that way. It’s not what I was intending to do at all,” McDavid said.

“It was more just complimentary of a great team in this league that came in and played a good game. Nothing more than that.”

Remember when the Oilers used to fancy themselves as a great team?

ADVERTISEMENT