BLOG: Opportunity knocks in McDavid's absence

SAINT PAUL, MN – "We don't want them to be Connor McDavid. We want them to be the best versions of themselves."

That was the message Jay Woodcroft and the Oilers coaching staff gave to their team on Tuesday in Minnesota as they get ready to play their first game without their captain, who will miss one to two weeks with an upper-body injury.

The head coach said McDavid's absence provides a chance for other Oilers forwards to lead the way and help the team get back on track after a less-than-ideal 1-3-1 start to the season.

"His teammates are viewing this as, what an opportunity for us," Woodcroft said. "Obviously, you don't replace the best hockey player in the world, but what you're looking to do is fill those 20, 21, 22 minutes that he plays a night with valuable contributions from some other people. So what an opportunity it is to show what kind of team we are and for some individuals to step up and take a little bit more responsibility."

Edmonton's projected lineup for Tuesday's matchup at Xcel Energy Center features Zach Hyman on a line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Warren Foegele – a trio that has enjoyed some early-season chemistry.

Hyman, who has two goals and four assists in five games, said his line's contributions will be even more valuable with McDavid out of the lineup.

"It's a big opportunity for the rest of the group to pick our game up," he said. "There's a lot of ice time available and I think it's a good opportunity for our depth to be showcased, and for guys who want more of a role to kind of grab it."

Enter Dylan Holloway as well, as the team's youngest forward could potentially see more ice time and is projected to line up next to Ryan McLeod and Connor Brown against the Wild.

"I think It'll be good for the squad – a little bit more hungry and going for that role," the 2020 first-round pick said of the opportunity for other forwards to step up.

"We know it's a big piece of our team missing. I think the best way we can go about it is just play as a team. Nobody try to do too much. We still have so many good players on this team that we should be able to win games and play the way that we know we can."

Since the start of McDavid's NHL career in 2015-16, the Oilers are 19-22-9 in the 50 games he's missed, but most recently they went 3-2-1 during the six games he missed between Feb. 9-22, 2020.