Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishEDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers will be without arguably their best defenceman for their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings. Mattias Ekholm has been ruled out of the matchup, coach Kris Knoblauch said.Ekholm has been in and out of the lineup with a lower-body injury since early March. He returned for the second time on Friday but left after reaggravating his injury following just 1:52 of playing time against the San Jose Sharks, Knoblauch said. Ekholm has appeared in just five games since March 4.His absence leaves a giant hole ahead of the fourth-straight opening-round series against the Kings.“Mattias is very valuable to our team,” Knoblauch said. “He checks all the boxes.”Ekholm’s prognosis is the worst of those injured. The list is a long one, a troubling sign with the playoffs less than a week away.Leon Draisaitl (lower body) will likely miss the final two games of the regular season but is expected to be ready for the playoffs. Draisaitl has played three games since getting hurt against Utah on March 18. He returned March 29 against Calgary only to leave midway through an April 3 contest at San Jose.Zach Hyman (undisclosed) won’t play Monday. His status for Wednesday is uncertain, but he’s slated to play in Game 1. Hyman left during the second period last Friday because he’d been dealing with a pre-existing ailment, Knoblauch said that night.Connor McDavid will sit out Monday’s game against the Kings as a precaution. The Oilers are playing their third game in four nights and McDavid just returned last Wednesday after missing eight contests with a lower-body injury. He’s an option for Wednesday’s season finale at San Jose.Jake Walman will miss his fourth straight game on Monday because of an undisclosed injury. He might be available to play Wednesday.Trent Frederic’s status for Game 1 of the playoffs remains uncertain because of an ankle injury. Frederic has played just one game since being acquired by the Oilers on March 4. He played just 7:10 in an April 5 game at Los Angeles, where he suffered a setback.Troy Stecher won’t play on Monday. He left Sunday’s game in Winnipeg early in the third period and didn’t return after falling awkwardly following a hit from the Jets’ Dominic Toninato. Josh Brown has been recalled from AHL Bakersfield to fill in for Stecher against the Kings. Stecher is considered day-to-day and should be available for Game 1.“We have a lot of guys who we’re anticipating to come back for the start of the playoffs is nice,” Knoblauch said. “Those guys are pretty important. I wouldn’t be as confident or looking to it as much as I am if those guys weren’t in the position that they are.“We still have a lot of good players. We’re missing some guys that we wish were in the lineup, but I still think we have a good team and have an excellent opportunity.”But there’s more.John Klingberg (foot) remains on LTIR, where he’ll stay until the end of the regular season. He took part in an optional morning skate on Monday. The Oilers might need him as an option if he can get healthy enough to play.And then there’s Evander Kane, who, like Klingberg, is on LTIR until the postseason.Kane still needs to be medically cleared from his abdominal and knee surgeries, which occurred in September and January, respectively, before he can make his season debut in the playoffs. Knoblauch said he’ll play as soon as that happens.“We’d love to have him in the lineup,” Knoblauch said. “He’s looking good. The treatment that he’s had, the surgeries, the time off has benefitted him well. He’s looking strong on the ice.”Kane said an AHL conditioning stint was never discussed with management but added he feels like he can play, especially after battling through a sports hernia during the 2024 postseason.“I’m really excited to get going here as soon as we get to 100 percent, which should be pretty soon,” Kane said. “If you ask me if I’m ready for Game 1, I could barely skate and I played in the playoffs last year. So, if you’re comparing how I feel now to last year, I’m ready to go.”That sounds somewhat positive. Also on that front, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is slated to make his return Monday after missing three games with an illness.Quinn Hutson, 23, who signed a two-year, entry-level contract after his Boston Terriers lost the NCAA final, will make his NHL debut against the Kings. That burns off the first year of the deal. He can play Wednesday, too, but is ineligible for playoff games.“I want to show that I can play here,” Hutson said. “I want to show what my role will be in the future. These next two games will be good practice for what that’ll look like.”“It’s great having him here,” Knoblauch said. “It’s unfortunate with the situation and all the injuries and not having our full team.“It’s an excellent opportunity for him. He’ll need him. He’ll have to play.”The Oilers will have to dress 11 forwards against the Kings because they don’t have enough cap space following Brown’s recall and getting Hutson’s contract on the books. It’s expected Noah Philp and Derek Ryan are out since they were on emergency recalls.Calvin Pickard starts in net on Monday.(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
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