Dec 20, 2017
Oilers' Sekera '100 per cent ready' to debut
Andrej Sekera said Wednesday he's feeling 100 per cent ready to make his 2017-18 season debut against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. Oilers head coach Todd McLellan has not confirmed if Sekera will debut against the Blues.
TSN.ca Staff
Andrej Sekera said Wednesday he's feeling 100 per cent ready to make his 2017-18 season debut against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.
Oilers head coach Todd McLellan has not confirmed if Sekera will debut against the Blues. Sekera tore his ACL seven months ago after undergoing surgery on a torn ACL.
"There's a good chance we'll see him tomorrow... The players are excited and I know he's chomping at the bit," McLellan said Wednesday.
The 31-year-old has been skating with the Oilers for more than month and has been targeting Christmas as a return date. He paired with Matt Benning and led the team stretch in practice Wednesday.
Sekera could take the roster spot of Oscar Klefbom, who was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
He tore his ACL in his left knee during Game 5 of Edmonton's second-round playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks. He was given a six-to-nine month recovery timeline after surgery in mid-May.
Sekera had eight goals and 35 points in 80 games last season, adding one goal and three points in 11 playoff games.
A veteran of 647 career games, Sekera owns 45 goals and 224 points while playing with the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and Oilers.
He signed at a cap hit of $5.5 million through the 2020-21 season.