Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid left Monday’s 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets with a lower-body injury early in the first period and did not return. He will at least 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 attempting 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 carefully slid toward the Oilers’ bench, protecting his left leg. His shift lasted 37 seconds and there was no penalty on the play.

Despite having the slowest start of his career with three goals and seven assists in 10 games, McDavid is arguably the player the Oilers can least afford in their lineup. The effects were felt immediately on Monday.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had to move to center, a position he basically only plays when the Oilers fill out their top line with McDavid and fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl. Nugent-Hopkins got time right after McDavid left the game with his usual linemate Zach Hyman and Jeff Skinner, who was promoted from the third line. Draisaitl, Hyman and Viktor Arvidsson rotated together in the second period as the Oilers coaching staff had to constantly reshuffle the lineup despite only having 11 forwards at its disposal.

The Oilers had major problems against the Blue Jackets without McDavid.

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

“It’s always difficult to play without the best player, but we have to find a way – hopefully in the short term. Obviously our team will look different. Maybe that’s one (or) two games. I’m not sure.”

Since the Oilers only had 12 healthy forwards on their roster with McDavid, they face a call-up from AHL Bakersfield before Thursday’s game. Knoblauch said discussions about this have already begun with GM Stan Bowman.

The options are veteran pro Drake Caggiula, rookie Matt Savoie and training camp standout Noah Philp. The two former players are wingers while Philip is a center. The 26-year-old Philp more than deserves to play his first NHL game based on his performance in the preseason. However, the Oilers have enough centers in Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Henrique and Derek Ryan, so they have the option to sign a winger if needed. They also have enough cap and roster space to easily recall any of these players.

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

McDavid is a generational talent and has one of the fullest trophy cases ever in league history. The 27-year-old captain won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s top scorer five times in his nine seasons. He won the Hart Trophy as MVP three times and received the Rocket Richard Trophy as top scorer in 2022-23.

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

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

The odds are excellent, regardless of McDavid’s status. It helps that the Oilers entered the season as Stanley Cup favorites and 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. Last month he was sidelined for three games due to another injury. The Oilers were 1-1-1 at the time.

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

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

“But when a guy like that goes down, we have to bounce back better.”

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(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images; Graphics: Dom Luszczyszyn / The athlete)