McDavid injury chance for other Oilers ‘to step up’ offensively [Video]

Glass half empty or glass half full?

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch hopes his players believe in the latter phrase as he mentioned the word “opportunity” several times Wednesday afternoon after news that the team’s biggest star, Connor McDavid, won’t play for the next two-to-three weeks – as many as 11 games – because of an ankle injury.

Knoblauch said other players will get chances not only to show they can be effective offensively by “stepping up and playing to their potential.”

McDavid, after all, has averaged one-and-a-half points per game early into the 10th season of his National Hockey League career.

• Visit our Oilers page for the latest stories, videos and more

“I think it’s a great opportunity for everyone to step up and play,” Knoblauch told media at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, site of Thursday’s Oilers game against the host Predators (6 p.m. MT).

“When you’re missing somebody who’s playing about 22 minutes a night, …