Oilers dealing with flu bug and some deadline jitters

Connor McDavid is still sick and didn’t practice Wednesday, so his status for Thursday’s game with the New York Islanders remains up in the air.

Fortunately, coach Ken Hitchcock doesn’t have the same penchant for detail as Columbus counterpart John Tortorella, so there was no update on the condition of McDavid’s pants.

“I don’t want to get into that description,” said Hitchcock, who, like everyone else, was thinking “too much information” when Tortorella went into vivid detail about Artemi Panarin’s flu symptom the other day.

“But, obviously, (McDavid’s) not here today, so he’s still under the weather. Hopefully he shows up Thursday. If not, we have to keep punching ahead.”

The flu bug is working its way through Rogers Place, having already cut a swath through the junior Oil Kings.

“I talked to the Oil Kings coach and it’s right through their lineup,” Hitchcock said. “We just hope we can get it cut off. We’ve already had a couple of training staff with it and then Connor. Hopefully it gets cut off there.”

McDavid, who missed Tuesday’s game against Arizona, spent Monday at an autograph session at West Edmonton Mall, which probably isn’t the best way to avoid a flu bug.

“I jokingly sent him a text saying that if he didn’t shake 2,000 hands the other day he wouldn’t be sick,” said Zack Kassian.

With the trade deadline fast approaching and the Oilers preparing to be sellers, there aren’t a lot of players 100 per cent certain they will still be Oilers on Feb. 26.

“You try not to let it (bother you), but it’s inevitable that there’s always change at this time of year,” said forward Sam Gagner. “It’s your teammates you’re dealing with and sometimes you have to see them go and new guys come in. It’s never something you want to deal with, you just try and focus on playing hockey and doing your job the right way.”

Alex Chiasson, an impending UFA with 17 goals this season, is one of the Oilers who might be garnering interest from other teams, but he’s not spending any time dwelling on it.

“Everyone is aware of what’s going on,” he said. “At the same time, we’re still playing for the Oilers and I think that’s what’s important.

“I know for me, all I do is control what I can control — the quality of my play and my preparation. The rest is out of my control. That’s what I’ve learned over the years.”

If and when it happens, they say their goodbyes and carry on, because that’s the only option.

“It’s not easy,” said Chiasson, adding the Cam Talbot trade was a rough one. “Cam had been here for quite a bit and he was a key guy in the locker-room and a guy who meant a lot to the community as well. That’s the tough part of the business.”