3 Oilers Who Must Step Up In The Wake Of McDavid Injury
EDMONTON -- So much for letting the good times roll.
The Edmonton Oilers received a sharp wake-up call in the form of a seemingly innocuous play that snowballed into a 6-1 thumping by the Columbus Blue Jackets. That play resulted in their captain, Connor McDavid, exiting the game and not returning.
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In his absence, the forwards with the most time on ice last night were Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (20:42), Leon Draisaitl (19:32), Mattias Janmark (18:23), and Zach Hyman (18:16).
No matter how long McDavid is out for, the Oilers need more from these three forwards. Even more so if he is out beyond the next game of the Oilers road trip.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Nugent-Hopkins will be the first to tell you that he needs to step up his game; that's just the kind of guy that he is. Now, with McDavid missing at least one game, the time is now for him to step up to the plate.
Although four points in 10 games isn't anything to scoff at, his 0.4 points per game pace is a yellow flag of concern. His lowest points per game pace was 0.52 in the 2016-17 season, where he finished with 43 points in 82 games.
Nuge is all over the ice, with his skates in a boatload of even strength and special teams play. His importance to the team cannot be understated, so the time is now for him to rise to the occasion.
Viktor Arvidsson
The newcomer Viktor Arvidsson is still finding his way with his new team. He's only played 10 games with the team, but his ability to relentlessly forecheck definitely stands out as his calling card.
With only three assists, one thing is clear: the Swede needs to shoot the pill more.
Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Arvidsson only has 20 shots. He has averaged three shots per game over his entire career and 3.3, 3, and 3.4 shots per game over the last three seasons.
Math dictates that the more you shoot, the more likely you are to score. He's played well enough, but there is no time like the present to bring more finishing to his game.
Zach Hyman
Hyman lives up to the old adage of "giving it 110 percent every shift." The winger personifies hard work.
Now, he has to put his nose to the grindstone and find a way to finish. With one assist in 10 games, he'll be the first to tell everyone he'd like more points.
He'd also put a greater emphasis on the team's need to win more games.
Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images
With McDavid out for at least a game, he'll need to crash and bang the net even more. He's likely to be joined at the hip to Draisaitl until the captain returns. Until then, he must get busy making hay, rain or shine.
McDavid's injury is not the end of the world. But things could spiral fast if the Oilers don't band together and find a way to play their game in his absence.
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