Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid left Monday’s 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets early in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. In any case, he will miss the next game.

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters in Columbus that McDavid is returning to Edmonton for further evaluation, meaning he will not play in Nashville on Thursday. The Oilers return home before continuing their road trip in Calgary on Sunday.

While trying to secure the puck at the offensive blue line, McDavid appeared to be tripped by Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski before crashing into the boards. McDavid stood up but slid gingerly toward the Oilers bench, favoring his left leg. His shift lasted 37 seconds and there was no penalty on the play.

While McDavid is off to the slowest start of his career with three goals and seven assists in 10 games, he may be the player the Oilers can least miss in their lineup. The ripple effects were felt immediately on Monday.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had to switch to center, a position he really only plays when the Oilers fill their top line with McDavid and fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl. Nugent-Hopkins got time right after McDavid left the game with usual linemate Zach Hyman and Jeff Skinner, who was bumped up from the third line. Draisaitl, Hyman and Viktor Arvidsson substituted together in the second period as the Oilers coaching staff had to continually shuffle the lineup while only having eleven forwards at their disposal.

The Oilers struggled mightily without McDavid against the Blue Jackets.

“It should be an opportunity for guys to step up,” Knoblauch said. “It’s more ice time, more opportunities.

“It’s difficult every time you play without your best player, but it’s something we have to find a way around – hopefully in the short term. It is clear that our team will look different. Maybe that’s one (or) two games. I’m not sure.’

Because the Oilers only had 12 healthy forwards on their roster — with McDavid — they will have to make a call-up from AHL Bakersfield ahead of Thursday’s game. Knoblauch said discussions about that have already begun with GM Stan Bowman.

The options are veteran pro Drake Caggiula, rookie Matt Savoie and training camp ace Noah Philp. The two former players are wingers, while Philip is a center player. The 26-year-old Philp is most deserving of playing his first NHL game based on his preseason efforts. However, the Oilers have enough centers in Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Henrique and Derek Ryan that they have the option to develop a winger if desired. They also have enough cap and roster space to recall any of these players without any problem.

But no one can replace McDavid, who is not only the leader of this team, but also considered the best player in the NHL.

McDavid is a generational talent and has one of the largest trophy cases in the history of the league. The 27-year-old captain won the Art Ross Trophy five times in his nine seasons as the league’s scoring champion. He has won the Hart Trophy as MVP three times and the Rocket Richard Trophy as top scorer in 2022-2023.

McDavid also won the 2024 Conn Smythe Trophy as the Oilers lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers after recording 34 assists – an NHL record – and 42 points in 25 playoff games.

McDavid’s injury did not appear too serious on Monday and a prolonged absence seems unlikely, although his return to Edmonton is not optimal. But McDavid’s importance to the Oilers is paramount, and without him, the team’s playoff chances diminish significantly.

The odds are excellent regardless of McDavid’s status. It helps that the Oilers entered the season as Stanley Cup favorites and that the Pacific is probably the weakest of the NHL’s four divisions.

It’s worth noting that McDavid missed two games early last season due to injury, amid a terrible 2-9-1 start that led to coach Jay Woodcroft being fired and replaced by Kris Knoblauch. The Oilers went 0-2 without McDavid. He was then sidelined for three games in the last month due to another injury. The Oilers were 1-1-1 at the time.

The awful loss in Columbus dropped the Oilers to 4-5-1 and sixth in the Pacific Division.

“He’s clearly our leader and the best player in the game,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “Of course, you’re going to feel it.

“However, we must do better to act when such a man goes down.”

Required reading

(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images; Image: Dom Luszczyszyn / The Athletics)