In the 2024-25 NHL season, the Edmonton Oilers’ mid-season campaign has been affected by the suspension of their captain, Connor McDavid. The Oilers captain was a crucial part of the squad and the moment he was given this three-game suspension on January 20, two days after their game against the Vancouver Canucks in the Rogers Arena, where in the third period he decided to cross-check the opponent team’s right winger, Conor Garland.

Until now, the decision has received mixed reactions from the NHL community. Indeed, fans of McDavid were not happy with this decision, but the critics appreciated it as they thought the cross-check to the head while fully equipped with a hockey kit was dangerous and unacceptable from the Oilers captain. With this suspension, the Oilers have played a game against the Washington Capitals where they lost the match 3-2. This raised a few concerns, as McDavid won’t be available for two more games, and it could change the course of the season for the Canadian NHL team in the standings.

Analyzing the future of the Edmonton Oilers

Let’s take a look at the Oilers’ current standings in the NHL. According to the official website of the league, they are currently in the fifth position overall. However, an avid NHL fan is aware that that’s not how the playoffs work. With the league having two conferences and four divisions, the top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs, and the remaining four spots will be filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference.

So, the Oilers are in the Pacific division, and for now, they are quite safe in second place in the standings, just behind the Vegas Golden Knights, who have 62 points in 47 games they have played. And what about the Canadian team’s statistics? They have also played 47 games and have 61 points. Following the Oilers in the standings are the Los Angeles Kings (55 points), the Calgary Flames (51 points), the Vancouver Canucks (50 points), the Seattle Kraken (45 points), the Anaheim Ducks (42 points), and the San Jose Sharks (34 points).

However, not all of them are a concern for the Oilers, except the Kings, Flames, and the Canucks. Indeed, with Connor McDavid not in their squad, they lost a match against the Washington Capitals on January 21. That particular loss also contributed to their statistics for losing two consecutive games for the first time in the current season, as mentioned by Oilers reporter Daniel Nugent-Bowman on X. This was the Oilers’ first game without their captain, and there will be two more against the Canucks on January 23 and the Sabres on January 25.

For some time, the Oilers might feel themselves safe alongside the Golden Knights, but if they lose these two upcoming matches too, then it might raise some concern for the team. Indeed, with a lot of matches remaining, all the teams in that division are eyeing for that sweet second and third spot. And with the Oilers not having their captain, who is also a key player, they might struggle to hold their current standings until the match where he will return. With McDavid out of the equation for a few matches, how did the other players react to this suspension?

Connor McDavid’s suspension created two sides

Many expected the Oilers to be worried about Connor McDavid’s suspension, but during an interview, one of his teammates had a different reaction. Leon Draisaitl also plays an important role in the Oilers, and when asked about the three-match suspension of their captain, he responded, stating, “I don’t have much to say towards it. Certainly think three games is a little too much, for either side. But, I guess we don’t overly care about having our best players in the league in the game.”

That was indeed a statement targeted at the NHL officials who made the decision. McDavid is a star player, and the Oilers’ alternate captain believes that his absence from a match will significantly reduce the viewership. But how did the rivals react? When Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin was questioned about this similar decision, he responded in a cheeky way, stating, “Sucks for him. Good for us. We’ll take it.” Indeed, it was a huge advantage for the Capitals, and they did take it by winning the game 3-2 against the Oilers. Now, only time will tell where they will stand after two more games without the presence of McDavid.