Connor McDavid is returning to the Oilers' lineup on Wednesday against the Blues just in time to ramp up for the playoffs.

However, the 2024-25 season was the most unusual of his Edmonton Oilers career. McDavid’s consistent brilliance is a rare thing in the NHL, especially since his peak performance is at the outer marker of excellence. For his generation, he sets the bar annually.

The Oilers played without Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Jake Walman, Trent Frederic, Mattias Ekhollm, and Troy Stetcher, as all of them have been banged up at some point over the last month.