“We want to be healthy,” says Kris Knoblauch, coach of the Edmonton Oilers, in reference to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisait

The NHL season is a marathon, and for any team with championship aspirations, maintaining the health of its star players is of paramount importance. The Edmonton Oilers are one such team, and two of their most pivotal stars, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, are the linchpins of the franchise’s future success. For these superstars, the long grind of an 82-game regular season, followed by the intensity of the playoffs, requires a careful balancing act of rest, recovery, and readiness.

Recently, Kris Knoblauch, the interim head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, was asked about the team’s focus going forward, particularly with regards to McDavid and Draisaitl’s health. His response, succinct but telling, was: “We want to be healthy.” This statement encapsulates not just the Oilers’ immediate priorities but also their broader vision for how they want to manage their roster as they continue to push for a Stanley Cup.

In this article, we will explore the significance of this comment, the importance of maintaining McDavid and Draisaitl’s health for the Oilers, and how Knoblauch’s philosophy could shape the team’s approach as they look to contend for a championship. Additionally, we will look into the challenges faced by both McDavid and Draisaitl over the years in managing their health and how the Oilers’ medical and coaching staff may have to adapt to ensure their stars remain healthy throughout the season.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl: The Oilers’ Cornerstones

To understand the weight of Kris Knoblauch’s statement, it’s important to first recognize just how integral McDavid and Draisaitl are to the Edmonton Oilers’ success. The duo forms one of the most formidable partnerships in the NHL, each bringing a unique set of skills to the table.

Connor McDavid is universally regarded as the best player in the world. His unmatched combination of speed, skill, and hockey IQ has made him a force to be reckoned with on the ice. McDavid has won multiple Hart Memorial Trophies (awarded to the league’s MVP), and he is consistently at or near the top of the NHL leaderboard in points, assists, and goals. As captain of the Oilers, McDavid has been at the center of their resurgence, and his ability to perform at the highest level is a driving force behind the team’s competitive aspirations.

Leon Draisaitl, McDavid’s linemate, is an exceptional talent in his own right. Known for his incredible playmaking ability and elite goal-scoring prowess, Draisaitl has won the Hart Trophy as league MVP as well. His chemistry with McDavid is unmatched, and together, they form one of the most dangerous offensive pairings in the NHL. Draisaitl is a dynamic player who can take control of a game both as a goal scorer and a playmaker, often relieving some of the pressure on McDavid to carry the offensive load.

Given the central role these two play in the Oilers’ system, their health is crucial. If McDavid or Draisaitl were to suffer significant injuries, the Oilers would be facing an uphill battle to remain competitive. This is why managing their health, particularly as they head into the stretch run of the season and, ultimately, the playoffs, is critical for the team’s championship aspirations.

The Importance of Health in the NHL

In any sport, player health is critical, but the NHL’s grueling schedule, combined with the physical nature of the game, means that injury management takes on an even greater significance. The NHL season is long, and while McDavid and Draisaitl are both incredibly durable players, they are not immune to the wear and tear that comes with the job.

The Oilers’ head coach, Kris Knoblauch, knows this reality better than anyone. He was appointed as the interim head coach following the firing of former head coach Jay Woodcroft, and one of his first priorities was ensuring that the team remained healthy and prepared for the postseason. Injuries to key players, especially ones like McDavid and Draisaitl, can derail a team’s championship hopes, so the importance of having these two players at full strength for the playoffs cannot be overstated.

The challenge for Knoblauch, as well as the Oilers’ medical and strength staff, is to find the right balance between managing their workloads during the regular season while ensuring they are fresh and ready for the most important games of the year. The Oilers must avoid pushing McDavid and Draisaitl to the point of injury, but they also need them to play at a high level throughout the regular season in order to secure a good playoff position.

McDavid and Draisaitl’s Injury History: A Cautious Approach

While McDavid and Draisaitl have both been incredibly durable over the course of their careers, they have had their share of injuries. For McDavid, the biggest concern came early in his career when he suffered a severe knee injury in 2015, just after being drafted by the Oilers. McDavid broke his clavicle, which caused him to miss a significant portion of his rookie season. Since then, he has generally avoided major injuries, though he has occasionally dealt with minor ailments, including groin strains and nagging issues.

For Draisaitl, the situation is a bit different. Draisaitl has had fewer serious injuries in his career but has been dealing with more wear and tear, as he is known for playing a physical brand of hockey. His ability to play through injuries is one of the reasons he’s so effective, but this can also lead to him putting his body through additional strain. His unique combination of size and skill makes him a constant threat on the ice, but it also exposes him to the potential for injuries, especially when playing at such a high level for extended periods.

These injury histories, coupled with the demanding nature of the NHL season, make it clear why Knoblauch would emphasize the need for health. The Oilers cannot afford to lose either McDavid or Draisaitl for extended periods, particularly when their entire offensive system is built around their combined talents.

Kris Knoblauch’s Approach to Player Health

Kris Knoblauch’s role as interim head coach means he has to strike a careful balance between pushing the team to perform at a high level and ensuring the health of the team’s star players. While McDavid and Draisaitl have both proven they can play through pain, Knoblauch’s leadership will be essential in managing their ice time and overall workload. This will likely include:

1. Load Management: Knoblauch will likely need to monitor McDavid and Draisaitl’s ice time closely, especially during the latter part of the season when playoff positioning becomes crucial. Although the Oilers rely heavily on both players, managing their minutes to ensure they are fresh for the playoffs will be a priority.
2. Rest Days and Recovery: The Oilers coaching and medical staff will also need to integrate rest days into McDavid and Draisaitl’s schedules. Even superstars need time to rest and recover, and strategically resting key players for certain games could give them the necessary recovery time without sacrificing team performance.
3. Preventative Care: The Oilers’ medical staff will continue to emphasize preventative care for McDavid and Draisaitl, ensuring that they are engaging in the proper training regimens to avoid injuries. Both players have been known for their dedication to fitness, so continued attention to their physical health will be critical to their performance and longevity.

The Oilers’ Championship Aspirations

For the Oilers, this season marks another opportunity to finally break through and win a Stanley Cup. They have one of the most potent offensive duos in the league, but they also need to ensure that their star players remain healthy throughout the postseason. If McDavid and Draisaitl can stay healthy, the Oilers will undoubtedly be one of the most dangerous teams in the league. With the likes of Evander Kane, Zach Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins providing additional scoring depth, the Oilers have the talent to compete with any team in the NHL.

However, as we have seen in the past, success in the postseason often comes down to health. The Oilers must be strategic about how they manage their star players, especially McDavid and Draisaitl, to ensure they are in top form when the games matter the most. If the Oilers can keep their two best players healthy and ready to perform, they will be well-positioned to challenge for a championship.