Some good news for the Edmonton Oilers.
Rookie phenom Connor McDavid has been recalled from the team’s minor league affiliate in Bakersfield, per the AHL transaction page.
The Oilers sent McDavid down to the AHL during the All-Star break so that he could test his clavicle during practices. He didn’t participate in any games.
“The whole point of this was kind of to take some contact,” McDavid told ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun on Saturday. “I was cleared for contact right before the All-Star break, I didn’t have a chance to that with the guys (in Edmonton) so it’s a good chance down here to take some bumps and really battle hard and test it out and see how it feels,” the teenage phenom said of trip down to Bakersfield during the Oilers’ weeklong break.”
The 19-year-old had 12 points in his first 13 NHL games before going down with a broken clavicle on Nov. 3.
Will he play in Tuesday’s game against Columbus? That remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear, McDavid’s return is imminent.
“There’s still a process to go through to be cleared to play and I’m going through that now,” added McDavid. “Whether it’s Feb. 2 or not, I’m not too sure right now, but obviously it’s sometime not too long after the All-Star break.”
The Oilers will likely provide an update on McDavid’s status after their practice on Monday.
Edmonton also recalled winger Zack Kassian and defenseman Griffin Reinhart.