NHL Rumors: McDavid Injury News, Michkov Future, Cassidy To Canadian Team? – The Hockey Writers – NHL Rumors

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Edmonton Oilers are battling through injuries to their biggest star, but their decision to keep him on the penalty kill has some analysts coming up with a troubling theory. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers face tough questions about Matvei Michkov, who was a healthy scratch in Game 5. Comments from Bruce Cassidy about coaching in the Canadian market have sparked conversation. Finally, are the Pittsburgh Penguins and Stuart Skinner going to go their separate ways?

Oilers Dealing With McDavid Injury Concerns

The Oilers find themselves in a must-win situation, trailing the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 in their series—and all eyes are on Connor McDavid. The superstar forward is clearly not at 100 percent, with signs pointing to an ankle issue affecting his speed and agility.

His ice time has dropped noticeably, and head coach Kris Knoblauch appears to be managing his workload carefully. Still, questions remain about why McDavid continues to see time on the penalty kill, where the risk of aggravating the injury is higher.

There’s speculation McDavid himself is pushing to stay on the ice to keep the injury from tightening up. Regardless, Edmonton must adapt. There isn’t confirmation from anyone inside the organization that this is why the Oilers are putting him out on the PK, but the theory makes sense.

The question becomes, is he doing more harm than good by playing the now-limited minutes he’s getting when down a man? Neither McDavid, nor Jason Dickinson were on the ice Tuesday morning for the Oilers pre-game skate.

Flyers’ Handling of Michkov Raises Questions

Rick Tocchet’s decision to scratch Matvei Michkov in Game 5 has sparked significant debate. The 21-year-old has struggled this postseason, posting zero points in four games with underwhelming underlying numbers.

In his place, Alex Bump entered the lineup and made an immediate impression, scoring in his playoff debut. That performance makes it difficult for the Flyers to justify taking him out.

Still, concerns linger about how Michkov is being handled. Widely viewed as a future cornerstone, his limited minutes and benching raise questions about what comes next. There’s already an unconfirmed rumor out there that he left the building during the game and has demanded a trade if Tocchet is not fired. It’s incredibly difficult to imagine that being true, but it raises an interesting question about how much these developments might strain the relationship between player and coach/organization.

Bruce Cassidy Linked to Oilers, Maple Leafs

Recent comments from Bruce Cassidy about a willingness to coach in Canada have sparked speculation around both the Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs, possibly even the Vancouver Canucks.

While the Canucks feel like a long shot given the state of their team and distance from being a contender, for Edmonton, the fit is obvious if the Oilers are bounced from the first round of the playoffs. If the team exits early again, management could look for a new voice behind the bench.

Toronto’s situation is less clear. With potential front office changes looming, the future of head coach Craig Berube is uncertain. While Cassidy would be a strong candidate, the Leafs’ issues extend beyond coaching, making them a more complex long-term project. They would need to sort out their GM issues first.

Penguins Riding Silovs, Skinner’s Future Uncertain

The Penguins appear to have found new life by turning to Arturs Silovs in goal. After falling behind 3-0 in the series against Philadelphia, the switch has helped spark a turnaround and they are now back in, down just 3-2 in their series.

That likely spells trouble for Stuart Skinner, whose struggles continue; he’s lost the starting job and is unlikely to get it back. Posting a subpar .873 save percentage in the series, Skinner has made it quite unlikely he gets an extension as a pending UFA.

With free agency approaching, his stock is trending downward. Once viewed as a potential starter, questions now surround whether any team will be willing to give him that opportunity this summer.