Connor McDavid on skating with Oilers: ‘It feels like nothing’s changed’

Few storylines for the upcoming NHL season are bigger than the one that surrounds Connor McDavid’s health. And after No. 97 finished hitting the ice at Rogers Place on Saturday for the first time since suffering a posterior cruciate ligament tear on Apr. 6, the hockey world was given some encouraging news.

“It feels like nothing’s changed,” the talented forward said, according to Mark Spector of Sportsnet.

Phew. Seeing McDavid skate and hearing he is essentially as good as he was before the major knee injury is obviously good news. This, of course, isn’t the first time he’s suffered a setback due to health in his career. During his rookie campaign, the superstar was sidelined with a fractured clavicle. After the team skate on Saturday, he compared and contrasted the two injuries.

“You take it a little bit slower,” he noted of his most recent rehab. “A collarbone is a bone — I wasn’t afraid to push that. But ligaments, I’ve never dealt with that before. I didn’t want to push too hard, but you have to push hard enough to make sure it’s healing.”

Asked ultimately if he’ll be ready when the Oilers’ opener against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 2, McDavid’s response didn’t offer any certainties.

“You’re going to have to ask some guys who are a lot smarter than I am,” he stated. “I’m supposed to play hockey, and I don’t make those decisions. The doc will say when I’m good to go, and I’ll go.”

Entering his fifth year with Edmonton, the three-time all-star will be looking to put forward his fourth-straight 100-point season.

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