Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse has undergone surgery to repair ligament and bone damage to his ankle and will be out of action for up to 12 weeks.
This means Nurse may not return until early March.
“He has a roommate who happened to go through that last year,” said head coach Todd McLellan, referring to Oilers captain Connor McDavid who missed 37 games with a broken collarbone last year.
“They can support each other now… It’s not going to be a lot of fun for him (Nurse) sitting and watching his teammates play.”
Nurse was injured in the Oilers’ 6-3 win over Winnipeg on Dec. 1.
He has three goals and two assists in 25 games for the Oilers this season, but his game has really improved in a number of areas in his second year in the NHL.
“I thought Darnell was one of our best transporters of the puck through the neutral zone,” McLellan said.
The Oilers have struggled with injuries on the back end, with veteran defenders Brandon Davidson, Eric Gryba and Mark Fayne also on injured reserve.
However, the Oilers should get Brandon Davidson back as early as Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
It has been a tough stretch for the Lethbridge, Alta. native who missed the final 14 games of last season, and he hasn’t played since the season opener against Calgary.
“It will be an adjustment,” McLellan said. “The game is moving pretty fast right now, at least from how he remembers it.”
“I’m definitely behind the eight ball,” Davidson said. “I think the medical staff has gotten me to a point where I feel that I can make an impact out there.”
With files from The Canadian Press.
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