Oilers coach: stars McDavid, Draisaitl played through injuries in playoffs

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said on Wednesday that some of the team’s top stars were playing through injuries during their Stanley Cup playoff run.

The Oilers lost 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers on Monday night.

“It’s obviously disappointing, it’s frustrating,” Leon Draisaitl said. “There’s only one team that can win, unfortunately. But I’m very proud of what we’ve been through this year.”

Knoblauch said Draisaitl had injuries that left the staff questioning whether he could play, while forward Evander Kane had a sports hernia and captain Connor McDavid was also playing hurt.

“Leon battled things throughout the playoffs — ribs, hands throughout the playoffs,” Knoblauch said. “At certain times it was worse than others. There were games we weren’t sure he was going to play. But he fought through it and played very well in those games.

“And then Evander with the sports hernia, something that’s been bothering him throughout the season. And it got to the point where it just limited his game. And unfortunately, we missed him.”

Knoblauch declined to comment on McDavid’s undisclosed injury, saying he didn’t have much information on the ailment.

McDavid led the playoffs with eight goals and 34 assists and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs.

“There were lots of happy moments throughout these playoffs, for sure,” he said. “A lot of great moments that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

The postseason’s top four scorers were all Oilers — including Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and defenseman Evan Bouchard.

“You often get defined on winning and winning that last game,” Knoblauch said. “We were so close to winning it. I think there were so many positives throughout the season that we should be happy about.”

The game capped a roller-coaster season that had Edmonton start with a 3-9-1 record, fire head coach Jay Woodcroft and install Knoblauch in his place.

Under the new bench boss, the Oilers went on a 16-game win streak and finished second in the Pacific Division with a 49-27-6 record.

“It was going to turn around no matter what. We had too good of players in that room to not score more goals and win more games,” forward Mattias Janmark said. “But I think, also, to become the team that we thought we were and that we needed to be, we needed to start doing things a little bit better, too.”

Several players hit major milestones, including McDavid, who had 100 assists, and Hyman, who scored 54 goals.

There are 10 unrestricted free agents on Edmonton’s roster, while the Oilers also have decisions to make on a pair of restricted free agents.

The club will also be able to sign extensions with some high-profile players starting Monday, including Draisaitl. But the German star said he hasn’t thought extensively about his future.

“I’m obviously going to sit down with my agent here, talk to the Oilers, see what their plan is, see what my plan is and go from there,” he said.

“I love being an Oiler more than anything.”

For now, Draisaitl and his teammates are simply taking time to process the highs and lows of their season.

The Oilers may not have won the Stanley Cup, but the team now believes they can get there, McDavid said.

“We’ve sat up here before and told you how bad we want to win and, looking back, we were miles away from it. And now we’re one shot away from it,” the captain said. “The belief has never been higher, not only within (Draisaitl and I), but within that room, within everybody.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid speaks during a press conference after getting back from losing to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey final, in Edmonton on Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart, left, aims the puck for a goal as Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) attempts to defend during the second period of Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) skates with the puck as Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) defends during the third period of Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) congratulates Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov (16) after Florida won Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla., Monday, June 24, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid, left and Leon Draisaitl speak during a press conference after getting back from losing to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey final, in Edmonton on Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Guardians signed free agent left-hander Matthew Boyd to a major league contract for the remainder of the season, an addition that will give the AL Central leaders some added pitching depth and protection.

Boyd, though, is still recovering from undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery last year, and won't be ready to join the Guardians until at least August. Boyd has progressed to throwing live batting practice.

“We don’t have a specific timetable at this point,” president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Saturday on a Zoom call. “But Matt’s been a very effective major league starter when he's healthy and we believe he can be a boost to our rotation and add some depth for us as we advance here through the season.”

Boyd was shut down last season after making 15 starts with Detroit. The 33-year-old agreed to a deal earlier this week with Cleveland and passed medical tests.

The Guardians were one of more than a dozen teams to attend a recent workout to see Boyd's progress.

Boyd is 44-67 with a 4.94 ERA in 160 starts since breaking in with Toronto in 2020. He spent seven seasons with the Tigers and one with Seattle before re-signing with Detroit in 2023.

Due to injuries, he's been limited to just 52 games over the past four seasons.

The Guardians, who have dropped three straight games and the first two of their four-game series in Kansas City, could be in the market for more starting pitching as the trading deadline approaches.

Before then, the team will get a boost as Gavin Williams is set to join the rotation after hurting his elbow in spring training.

The hard-throwing 24-year-old was expected to have a major role with Cleveland this season before he got hurt throwing a weighted ball in March. Williams made his sixth rehab start on Thursday for Triple-A Columbus, making 82 pitches in four innings.

Antonetti said the team will create a roster spot before Sunday's game for Williams, a former first-round pick who went 3-5 in 15 starts as a rookie last season.

“We’ll have to continue to be thoughtful with him as we build up his progression,” Antonetti said. “He won’t be on an unrestricted plan moving forward like a typical starter, but we think he’s at a point now where he’s able to help us win games."'

Antonetti also addressed Triston McKenzie's recent struggles. The right-hander had his third straight rough outing on Friday, allowing five runs and five hits in just 2 1/3 innings as Cleveland lost 10-3.

McKenzie hasn't gone more than three innings in his last three starts. He's 3-5 with a 5.11 ERA in 16 starts.

“It’s been inconsistent with Triston at times,” Antonetti said. “We have seen him make progress with how his body’s moving and some of the delivery work he’s been doing with our coaches, but it’s not yet to a point where it’s translated to consistent results in the game.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE - Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, June 21, 2023, in Detroit. The Cleveland Guardians signed free agent left-hander Matthew Boyd to a major league contract for the remainder of the season on Saturday, June 29, 2024, an addition that will give the AL Central leaders some added pitching depth and protection. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio,m File)