GENE'S BLOG: Missing McDavid

It's Monday morning and I actually just leaned over and felt a little tweak or pinch in my lower back on the left side.

I've been having some issues with my lower back and sides for the last few weeks. I think it's mainly due to old age or aging. I can't remember being cross-checked, dragged down, knocked into a net, hooked, slashed, hit or anything else that should or could have caused this type of pain.

What I'm feeling might be sympathy pains, but what McDavid feels is real pain.

A muscular issue is what Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said after Saturday's game. I don't know for sure, and I guess we won't know for sure about Connor McDavid's upper-body injury that he suffered against the Jets, but I first noticed it in the final couple of minutes when Derek Ryan hopped over the boards to join Zach Hyman and Leon Draisaitl.

Something wasn't right with the captain.

Maybe it was an equipment issue as Jack Michaels and Bob Stauffer mentioned on the Oilers Radio Network. Certainly, it could've been, but when overtime started and McDavid wasn't on the ice, as Winnipeg's Josh Morrissey said post-game when asked if he noticed the captain wasn't out there, the defenceman said: "Oh yeah, we noticed... That would be the understatement of the century."

By sight, you could see McDavid was still on the bench – even though he took a few twirls at the end of the game and just before OT. Following what Jack and Bob said, there was a vibe in the building that something wasn't right with the game's best player.

What I will say about McDavid is he is a superstar hockey player and athlete. I remember in Boston last season, the team finished their skate and he bolted out of the room to the other side of the rink. I thought maybe he was going to talk to some Boston University players who watched the practice. As I followed closely, but not too closely so as to not be detected, I was actually noticed and was told Connor was just going to work out.

Whatever McDavid was given naturally is a blessing; whatever else he has added is through hard work and commitment. It's what's been done by him that allows him to continually take the physical attention he receives on the ice and still be able to keep on playing.

On Saturday, something wasn't right. On Sunday, we found out that whatever is causing the captain discomfort will keep him out of the lineup for a week or two. Crisis averted if you are the Oilers and their fans. It's not easy missing your best player, but what has changed since McDavid began his hockey life with Edmonton is that the Oilers have available and capable replacements. You can never replace a Lamborghini or Ferrari, but you can still get something to transport you from point A to point B. Edmonton has a roster more than capable of doing that.

Imagine the luxury of having Draisaitl – a Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner – to move to the middle and hold the spot of another Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner. Then, if you can put a 100-plus-point producer in the middle of the second line like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins; plus, surround those two with Hyman and Evander Kane to name a couple of goal-scorers, then the Oilers can make this work until number 97 returns. Not ideal, but injuries never are when it comes to the top players and leaders.

For now, Edmonton will do their best, but you know they will be missing McDavid.