Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid has established himself as one of the NHL's best players, so it's not a surprise to see one of his rookie cards sell for a large price at auction. 

Per Darren Rovell of The Action Network, McDavid's 2015-16 Upper Deck "The Cup" rookie patch autographed card sold for $135,811 on Friday:

According to PSACard.com, a Mint 9 grade indicates a card in "superb condition" with only one minor flaw ranging from a "very slight wax stain on reverse, a minor printing imperfection or slightly off-white borders."

The card seller, a man named John, told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski he originally got the card through a lucky circumstance by paying "under $150" to take part in a case break when a host opens a pack of cards for anyone who purchased a spot in the group: 

"I'm recently retired after 30 years of being a carpenter. I had never really collected a card in my life. A friend of mine last year got me into breaking cards as a hobby and really enjoyed it. I picked Jaspy's because my father was a lifeguard in Hermosa Beach in the 1940s. His elementary school is across the street from Jaspy's."

McDavid has lived up to all of the hype since being the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NHL draft. The 23-year-old led the league in points in each of his first two seasons with the Oilers (2016-17, 2017-18). He became the third player aged 20 or younger to win the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2016-17, joining Wayne Gretzky (twice) and Sidney Crosby (2006-07). 

Edmonton Oilers forward Colby Cave died Saturday at the age of 25 less than a week after suffering a brain bleed.

Cave's wife, Emily, issued the following statement:

According to ESPN, Cave was airlifted to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto on Tuesday to undergo emergency surgery. A colloid cyst was removed, and he was then placed in a medically induced coma.

The Oilers tweeted the following in memory of Cave:

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also released a statement:

Oilers legend Wayne Gretzky tweeted his condolences as well:

Cave was a North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, native who fought his way into the NHL as an undrafted free agent after starring for the Western Hockey League's Swift Current Broncos.

He signed with the Boston Bruins and appeared in three games for them during the 2017-18 season and 20 games in 2018-19, but Cave spent most of his time in the Bruins system with the AHL's Providence Bruins.

The Oilers claimed Cave off waivers in 2018-19, and he went on to appear in 33 games for the Oilers last season and 11 games this season.

Cave had one goal for Edmonton during the 2019-20 campaign and 23 points in 44 games for the AHL's Bakersfield Condors.

All told, Cave recorded four goals and five assists for nine points in 67 career NHL games.

Bakersfield Condors forward Colby Cave, a prospect in the Edmonton Oilers organization, remains in a medically induced coma after undergoing emergency surgery to remove a colloid cyst on his brain. 

"Colby is still in a medically-induced coma. This is giving his brain time to heal and rest from all he's been through. We would like to thank the Oilers organization, the entire hockey community, all of our friends, and family, and everyone who has shown us love and support," Cave's family said a statement Thursday.

"We would like to send a big thank you to Colby's critical care team, neurosurgeons and nurses at Sunnybrook Hospital. We appreciate all that you are doing for our Colby."

Cave, 25, underwent surgery Tuesday in Toronto and was placed into a medically induced coma for a brain bleed. His wife, Emily, asked for a "miracle" in an Instagram post on Monday: 

"Please wake up. Please wake up. It’s all I can keep asking, 'he’s going to wake up right?' We need a miracle. Colby’s parents and myself, got to see him through a window and talk to him with a walkie talkie last night. We are no longer allowed to be in the hospital because Covid-19 rules. We have no idea when we will be allowed to see him again. The nurse has tied his wedding band to his ankle. I am dreaming of being able to touch you, hear your voice, squeeze your hand (3 times), and kiss you again. I love you so much, and my heart is shattered into a million pieces without my best friend "

Cave has made 67 career NHL appearances for the Oilers and Boston Bruins, scoring nine points. He made 11 appearances, scoring one goal, in 2019-20. 

Edmonton Oilers prospect Colby Cave was placed in a medically induced coma after suffering a brain bleed, the team announced Tuesday. 

"Please keep Colby & his wife Emily in your thoughts & prayers at this time," the Oilers said.

Emily Cave addressed the situation on Instagram: "Last night and today have been the worst days of my life. Colby is currently in surgery and they are fighting to keep him alive. We need a miracle. Please pray for my husband and best friend."

The Oilers provided an update on Cave as well:

The 25-year-old appeared in 11 games for the Oilers this season and spent most of the year with their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. He had 11 goals and 12 assists in 44 games for Bakersfield.

Cave went undrafted in 2014 and signed an entry level contract with the Boston Bruins in April 2015. He made his NHL debut in the Bruins' 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 21, 2017.

The Oilers claimed him off waivers in January 2019 and he made 33 appearances (two goals, one assist) over the second half of the 2018-19 season.

Although it's unclear when the 2019-20 NHL season will resume, Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid lobbied to play the campaign to its completion when the league restarts.

"I think [the standings] look pretty good right now," McDavid said, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "But you want a fair season. And a fair season is a full season. If we can do that, I think that's something we'd obviously prefer."

The NHL suspended the season March 12 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and it's unclear when the league will come back. TSN's Bob McKenzie reported NHL officials inquired about when teams will have available arena dates in August.

Upon announcing the NHL's indefinite hiatus, commissioner Gary Bettman indicated he wished to formally finish this season as usual.

McDavid expressed reservations with any plan that would have the playoffs start immediately or shortly after the NHL returns.

"I don't think we can just step into the playoffs and Game 1, it's Calgary coming to Edmonton, and guys are running around trying to kill each other that haven't played for two months," he said. "It'll end up the [AHL] Stockton Heat vs. the Bakersfield Condors if that's the case. We want to keep the guys healthy."

Dr. Willem Meeuwisse, the league's chief medical officer, echoed McDavid's comments earlier in the week.

Meeuwisse cautioned against rushing players back, thus putting them at an increased risk injury. He told reporters the players would have a brief training camp for conditioning purposes.

Like their counterparts in other sports, NHL players have been unable to properly train because of self-quarantining guidelines and recommendations to avoid large public gatherings. The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported the league instructed teams to continue self-quarantining until April 6. 

The NHL announced that Edmonton Oilers right wing Zack Kassian has been suspended seven games after kicking Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak in the chest in the first period of Tampa's 3-1 home win on Thursday. 

TSN's Bob McKenzie also reported the news on Kassian, who was suspended two games in January for attacking Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk.

Sportsnet provided video of Kassian's kick:

Diana C. Nearhos of the Tampa Bay Times offered background:

"Cernak was sitting on Kassian and fellow winger Josh Archibald, which should have been an interference penalty, but is a common move to keep someone (in this case someones) out of the play. Kassian pushed himself free and then aimed the kick at Cernak to get him off Archibald.

"The play started when Kassian grabbed onto Cernak. Archibald lost his footing and barreled into the pair, upending them. Cernak stayed on top of the pile for an extra few seconds.

"A linesman came up behind the play to break up the trio, but only a referee can call a penalty. Both referees were away from that pile watching the puck in play."

Kassian was not penalized Thursday and finished the game.

Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reported that the suspension will cost Kassian $166,463.41.

In its video explaining the suspension decision, the NHL Department of Player Safety said that there was no justification for the kick even if Kassian was trying to get untangled from a pile of three players (including himself) on the ice and that he could have accomplished that task without kicking Cernak.

The league acknowledged Kassian's assertion that the kick was not forceful or malicious. However, the department said that the intent is irrelevant considering that the kick was illegal and put Cernak at "immediate risk of serious injury."

In summary, the league said that Kassian clearly kicked Cernak and noted that he's a repeat offender, having been suspended now four times during his career.

Sportsnet Stats noted that Kassian has been suspended a total of 47 games over his entire professional career, including stints with the OHL, AHL and IIHF.

Kassian is eligible to return to the ice on Saturday, Feb. 29 against the Winnipeg Jets at home.

Edmonton Oilers right wing Zack Kassian was caught kicking Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak in the chest following a pile-up near the Oilers' blue line. 

Sportsnet had the footage:

Cernak discussed the incident after the game, per USA Today's Mike Brehm: "He kicked me when he was on the ice. I think he was a little mad at me."

Diana C. Nearhos of the Tampa Bay Times provided some context for the incident:

"Cernak was sitting on Kassian and fellow winger Josh Archibald, which should have been an interference penalty, but is a common move to keep someone (in this case someones) out of the play. Kassian pushed himself free and then aimed the kick at Cernak to get him off Archibald.

"The play started when Kassian grabbed onto Cernak. Archibald lost his footing and barreled into the pair, upending them. Cernak stayed on top of the pile for an extra few seconds.

"A linesman came up behind the play to break up the trio, but only a referee can call a penalty. Both referees were away from that pile watching the puck in play."

As noted by Mike Stevens of Yahoo Sports Canada, Kassian has made the news recently for physical confrontations, most notably jumping the Calgary Flames' Matthew Tkachuk in January. He was suspended two games.

As for Thursday's matchup, Kassian did not receive any punishment for his actions at the time, and he finished out his team's 3-1 road loss to Tampa Bay.

However, Nearhos noted that the NHL's Department of Player Safety could be giving a call to Kassian about the act, with TSN's Darren Dreger tweeting that it "would be hard" to believe that such a conversation won't occur.

Edmonton Oilers superstar center Connor McDavid is expected to miss two to three weeks because of a quad injury, general manager Ken Holland announced Tuesday.

"We're hoping less than that," Holland noted.

McDavid suffered a bruised left knee during Saturday's 3-2 victory against the Nashville Predators. At that point, head coach Dave Tippett deemed the injury "nothing serious."

However, Edmonton will now be without its star for the time being.

McDavid has lived up to the hype since the Oilers selected him with the first overall pick in the 2015 draft. He scored 48 points in 45 games during his injury-shortened rookie season and led all NHL players with 324 points (112 goals and 212 assists) over the past three years, per Hockey Reference.

He's on another scoring pace with 30 goals and 51 assists in 55 appearances during the current campaign.

The 23-year-old Canadian missed nearly half his rookie campaign because of a fractured clavicle. He's been durable since that initial setback, missing just four games over the previous three seasons combined.

Leon Draisaitl, who's swapped between McDavid's wing and second-line center in recent years, may now be tasked with leading the top line with his fellow star is out. It will also lead to more playing time for depth centers Riley Sheahan and Gaetan Haas.

Ultimately, McDavid is one of the NHL's most valuable players, and the Oilers don't feature a ton of secondary scoring, which makes his potential absence an even greater concern. Any type of extended absence would have a major impact on the team's playoff hopes.

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid's slight PCL tear in 2019 was reportedly far more serious than the team initially let on, according to a report from Ryan Rishaug of TSN:

McDavid has established himself as one of the NHL's most dynamic players since the Oilers selected him with the first overall pick in the 2015 draft. His 324 points (112 goals and 212 assists) over the previous three seasons (2016-17 through 2018-19) led all players, per Hockey Reference.

The 23-year-old Canadian superstar suffered a fractured clavicle early in his rookie season that forced him to miss nearly half his debut campaign. He's remained mostly durable since that setback, missing just four games over the last three years.

This season, he's registered 27 goals and 49 assists (76 points) in 49 games, a ridiculous scoring pace. 

Edmonton's depth would be seriously tested if McDavid ever missed any time. Ultimately, there's no chance the Oilers would be able to match his production in any absence. He's a generational talent who's just now reaching the peak of his powers and keeping him healthy and on the ice is the team's top priority. 

James Neal has been with the Edmonton Oilers for all of three games, but the 32-year-old winger is right at home.

Neal scored four of the Oilers' five goals in their 5-2 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night:

According to the team, Neal's last hat trick came on March 14, 2016—ironically against Edmonton as a member of the Nashville Predators.

As an Oiler now, Neal is already writing history:

Neal's performance against New York brought his goal total to six on the season. He scored two goals against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. To make matters more impressive, Neal scored seven goals across 63 games with the Calgary Flames last season.

Edmonton is Neal's sixth NHL team since the Dallas Stars selected him in the second round (No. 33 overall) in 2005. The Oilers acquired Neal through a trade with the Flames in July, and so far, the All-Star is proving the move successful.

If Neal continues at this pace, the Oilers won't mind keeping him through the 2022-23 season under his current five-year, $28.75 million contract.

In the short term, the Oilers are 3-0 to start their 2019-20 campaign.