Oilers' Connor McDavid 'ahead of schedule' in recovery from broken clavicle

The Edmonton Oilers could be getting star rookie Connor McDavid back sooner than expected.

Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli told Sportsnet's Mark Spector on Thursday that McDavid is healing at a rate that could put him back in the team's lineup well before the projected early March return date. Spector believes McDavid could be playing again by mid-to-late January.

“He’s ahead of schedule,” Chiarelli said. “He’s been in the pool, been lifting weights...There are no soft tissue injuries, which is important. When you get a break like that, oftentimes there is accompanying soft tissue injuries. That slows down the recovery.”

McDavid broke his clavicle against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 3. While Chiarelli didn't provide an exact date he thought the 18-year-old would be back, he did say McDavid wants to suit up again well before the time originally aimed for.

“He’ll want to come back,” Chiarelli said. “It’ll be interesting. We’ll make the best decision for the organization and Connor.”

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McDavid, who has not started skating yet, was having a tremendous rookie campaign prior to the injury, leading all first-year players with five goals and seven assists through 13 games. He provided an update on his health back on Nov. 16, saying he and his training staff were doing "everything they can" to get him back out on the ice.

McDavid could return to help the Oilers on a three-game road swing beginning Jan. 18 against the Florida Panthers.

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