The Edmonton Oilers got an early holiday gift on Thursday night, as Mark Spector of Sportsnet revealed that first-overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, forward Connor McDavid is "weeks ahead of schedule" in his return from a broken clavicle. Per Spector, that would put McDavid's return to the Oilers lineup sometime in mid-January, well before the initial estimation of March.
"He's ahead of schedule," Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli told Spector. "He's been in the pool, been lifting weights... There are no soft tissue injuries, which is important. When you get a break like that, oftentimes there is accompanying soft tissue injuries. That slows down the recovery."
McDavid had surgery to install a plate and screws after suffering the injury during a Nov. 3 game against the Philadelphia Flyers. McDavid fell awkwardly while skating toward the end boards in the Philly zone. Initial estimates from Edmonton suggested he'd miss approximately four months. McDavid met with media about two weeks ago and, from all reports, looked "great."
Now, while Chiarelli wouldn't commit to a specific date of return, it sure sounds like McDavid's going to be back much quicker than expected.
"I can tell you that when it comes time, he is going to want to come back a lot earlier than what we forecast internally," Chiarelli told Spector.
Of course, as badly as the Oilers need McDavid in their lineup, they're not going to rush their budding star back onto the ice before he's ready.
Through 13 games of his first NHL season, McDavid was pacing all rookies with five goals and seven assists and looked every bit the generational player the Oilers - and everyone else in the NHL - thought he'd be.
From the sounds of things, it's not only McDavid's physical talents and freakish athleticism that will likely see him return to the ice quicker than expected. To hear McDavid's agent, Jeff Jackson, tell it, McDavid's will and positive outlook is driving his expedited timeline and, in turn, giving Oilers fans something about which to be happy this holiday season.
"He's looking good, he's very positive mentally," Jackson told Spector. "It's all good news, really."
