Edmonton Oilers dealing with list of injuries heading into Stanley Cup playoffs

As early as this weekend, Edmonton’s Ice District will be full of Oilers fans as the team takes on the LA Kings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs — the fourth year in a row the two teams have faced off in the first round.

The Oilers will be without one of their top players for at least the first round.

Despite a growing list of injuries, Oilers fans CityNews spoke to in the Ice District on Monday are looking ahead to the playoffs with hope.

“Not great — not good. I’m not worried about the team or anything, but it would’ve been good to see some of our all-stars playing tonight, that’s all,” said one local fan.

“I don’t know where to start… Hyman is not playing tonight… McDavid is not playing tonight,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch.

And there literally is a list of injured Oilers this week.

“I’ve got a list here because it’s a long one,” said Mark Spector from Sportsnet. “Nugent-Hopkins is back tonight — he was sick. Leon Draisaitl, Jake Walman, Zach Hyman, and Troy Stecher won’t play tonight. They’re questionable for Wednesday in San Jose and hopeful for Round One of the playoffs.”

Oilers captain Connor McDavid was out of the lineup Monday against the LA Kings as a precaution.

Unfortunately, there’s more — the Oilers will also be without one of their top defensemen, Mattias Ekholm, for at least the first round. A steady veteran presence on the Oilers’ blue line, his absence is being felt.

“I think he’ll be out a lot longer than that,” said Spector. “You can’t sugarcoat it — losing a top-pairing defenseman before the playoffs even start, likely for the whole thing, is not good.”

Even with that dark cloud hanging over the team, Oilers fans in the Ice District Monday afternoon were looking forward to the start of the playoffs later this week, where the Oilers will again face off against the LA Kings.

“You know, it kind of sucks, but I think they need a little rest anyway to pump them up for the playoffs. So when they come back, they’ll be 100 per cent and good to go,” said one fan.

“I know there’s a lot of people injured, but on the other hand, the guys who have been playing on the team have been playing pretty good, I think,” said another.

While the Oilers will face the Kings in round one, who gets home-ice advantage has yet to be determined.