Happy birthday, Connor McDavid: The Oilers need you now, more than ever

Connor McDavid turns 19 today, though that's hardly cause for celebration.

Sure, he might be fitted for a playful headlock from Luke Gazdic, or perhaps receive a broken English greeting from Nail Yakupov that will bring rise to the room. But it will only serve as a brief distraction for the Edmonton Oilers, on the road in California, from their current state.

Somewhere between self-pity and surrender.

The Oilers were 4-3 overtime losers to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday, failing to net two points for the 10th time in their last 13 games.

They still rank dead last in the Western Conference, and despite being six points back of the Pacific's final postseason slot, three teams stand between them and third-place San Jose.

McDavid will miss a minimum of 37 games before he, the medical team, and coaching staff agree his left clavicle - broken in his 13th game and before he could truly introduce his talent - is strong enough to withstand the hazards associated with competing at the highest level.

Unfortunately by then, this season will be a lost cause.

For a while, McDavid's team was doing its part. The Oilers won six straight games to open December, and provided every indication they could at least close over the wound, and just hang around long enough for the rookie phenom's return.

Bleeding, though, has since prevailed. Edmonton has managed 12 wins in 31 games since its latest No.1 overall selection was cancelled by two Philadelphia Flyers' defensemen. And the road map to McDavid's return will only become more cumbersome to navigate.

The Oilers meet the Sharks and Flames to close out the week before embarking on a three-game road trip with stops in Florida, Tampa Bay, and Dallas. Then they return home to face the Predators before an extended nine-game break around the All-Star Game.

Projections are, as we know, bunk. Because for all we know, the Oilers could run the table and be in postseason seeding when McDavid returns.

But even if they split the next six, which would be generous considering the quality of their opponents, the Oilers will head into the break totaling 20 wins in 50 games.

So, based on the 95-point standard for postseason-bound rosters, the Oilers, with McDavid, would have to win approximately 80 percent of their games down the stretch to snap the club's nine-year postseason drought.

You'd have to prefer their chances at winning another lottery.