BLOG: McDavid participates in Oilers practice at Commonwealth Stadium

EDMONTON, AB – The signs are pointing in the right direction for the captain to make his comeback in time for the Heritage Classic.

Connor McDavid was a full participant on Saturday during the Oilers' practice at Commonwealth Stadium ahead of the 2023 Tim Horton's Heritage Classic on Sunday against the Calgary Flames.

No. 97's appearance on the ice with his teammates was his first with the group since sustaining an upper-body injury during the third period of a 3-2 overtime defeat to the Winnipeg Jets seven days ago at Rogers Place, which was given a one-to-two-week recovery timeframe.

“It's feeling good. I'm making a lot of progress,” McDavid said following the outdoor skate. “I felt really good today in practice. A lot of good signs.”

“Our training staff is amazing here in Edmonton. We're very lucky here to have such great staff and they've been working hard at it all week. I feel like it's in a really good place.”

Beyond his hopes of being healthy in time to lace them up with his teammates for the Heritage Classic on Sunday, McDavid said during his post-practice media availability at Commonwealth that even if this was a normal regular-season game, he would’ve worked just as hard to return in time to make the lineup.

His world-class skillset elevates his reputation as the world’s greatest player, but the captain understands that availability is ultimately one of the most-important assets of any elite talent.

“I hate missing games – period,” McDavid said. “Whether or not this game was played indoors or outdoors, it'd something I was pushing for. I hate missing games, and sitting out too is not something that's fun.

I think as athletes, your availability to the team and being able to play day in and day out is something that is very important. It's your job and something that I take very seriously, so being available is important to me.”

McDavid wore his team's full Heritage Classic uniform for a team photo at centre before swapping into a top-six white jersey and completing practice on the top line alongside Leon Draisaitl and Warren Foegele.

McDavid wore his team's full Heritage Classic uniform for a team photo at centre ice before swapping into a top-six white jersey and completing practice on the top line alongside Leon Draisaitl and Warren Foegele.

The potential return of the captain to the Blue & Orange's lineup would provide a major boost to the dressing room ahead of an important Battle of Alberta where both clubs are looking to break out of early-season slumps.

The potential return of the captain to the Blue & Orange's lineup would provide a major boost to the dressing room ahead of an important Battle of Alberta where both clubs are looking to break out of early-season slumps. McDavid posted eight points (two goals, six assists) in five games before missing Edmonton's last two losses to the Minnesota Wild (7-4) and New York Rangers (3-0), which dropped the club's overall record to 1-5-1.

“I don't know if he's playing or not. I can't give you that answer, but if he's in, he's the best player in the world and he has been for I don't know how many years,” Draisaitl said. “So he's going to give us something that you can't replace that. So if he's in, we're obviously very excited.”

“It's always good to see anybody come back from an injury," goaltender Stuart Skinner said. "Who knows if he's going to be able to play tomorrow, I have no idea. But it's always good to see guys come back, and you know that Connor wants to be on the ice and he wants to play. He wanted to play the overtime when he was hurt.

"He's one of those guys that he's just a major competitor, so, you know he wants to be out there and he's going to do everything he can to do that."