Oilers' Connor McDavid Gets 'Load Management' Update Amid Injury Rehab

McDavid has been out since sustaining a lower-body injury during Thursday's loss to Winnipeg. Draisaitl has missed action since March 20.

Though neither star has resumed full practice, Draisaitl skated with the team before the game against the Stars.

Meanwhile, TSN insider Darren Dreger shed more light on the situation, saying that the Oilers aren't, in fact, "load managing" McDavid’s absence for rest, but rather dealing with a genuine injury concern.

“It’s not load management—these guys are dealing with issues,” Dreger said on Wednesday. “I’m not getting the sense that there’s reason to be overly concerned.”

Still, Dreger cautioned that if McDavid isn’t skating with just a few games left in the regular season, the situation could take on a different tone.

“All of a sudden, you’re three games from the end of the regular season, and he’s still not ready,” Dreger said. “If the best-case scenario is they get the rest they need, they get healthy, and other guys pick up the slack—then that might be the best thing going into the playoffs.”

McDavid has posted 90 points in 63 games this season, while Draisaitl leads the team with 101 points and has scored a league-best 49 goals.

Following Wednesday's loss to the Stars, the Oilers have 11 games left in their regular-season schedule, starting with the second leg of a back-to-back on Thursday against the Kraken.

The Oilers sit third in the Pacific Division with 87 points and a 41-25-5 record.