Ducks set to unleash Hampus Lindholm against Oilers’ Connor McDavid

Welcome home, Hampus Lindholm. Now go chase perhaps the best player in the game.

That’s essentially the scenario Ducks defenseman Lindholm faces when Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers visit Honda Center on Tuesday.

Lindholm has played three road games with the Ducks since he signed a six-year contract extension Oct.27, but has yet to make his home debut. He has gotten his legs under him as he returns to form and said “it’s more about getting in game mode.”

He’s going to need those legs for the Oilers, who boast a bevy of fast skaters led by 19-year-old McDavid, who Kings Coach Darryl Sutter recently called the best player in the NHL.

“It’s going to be a big challenge,” Lindholm said. “But that’s the kind of games you want to play. You want to play against the good teams and you want to beat the good teams. It’s a fun game, and it’s going to be real fun playing against them.”

Sutter’s observation is part of a growing consensus on McDavid, whose goal highlights go viral instantly. He combines blazing speed with superb skill. McDavid is also due; he hasn’t scored in eight games.

Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle will likely use his second line of Andrew Cogliano, Ryan Kesler and Jakob Silfverberg against McDavid in McDavid’s second appearance in Anaheim. He watched McDavid during the World Cup of Hockey.

“When you have individuals that are marquee players, and young marquee players, it’s always important that you pay special attention to them,” Carlyle said.

Carlyle said he “tempered his expectations” for Lindholm in his first few games, knowing that Lindholm was coming in cold. He hadn’t played an NHL game since April 27, and his contract dispute forced him to sit out training camp and the first 13 games.

Carlyle is still getting to know Lindholm. He noted that Monday was Lindholm’s second full practice. But Carlyle is familiar with the 22-year-old’s ability to back check, jump in the play offensively as well as defend.

“He checks a lot of boxes off as far as elite level and heading in that direction,” Carlyle said.

Defenseman Josh Manson was partnered with Lindholm for most of last season and is happy that Lindholm is back in the fold.

“He just eats minutes,” Manson said. ““He takes a little bit of stress off everybody.”

NEXT UP

DUCKS VS. EDMONTON OILERS

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m. PST.

On the air: TV: Prime; Radio: 830.

Update: Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm said he’s gotten his legs under him more following three games with the team and is gradually getting acclimated before his first home game this season. Anaheim will need those legs and better defense against the strong-skating Oilers, led by Connor McDavid.

Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle noted defensive breakdowns in their previous game and said “we have to do a better job defending in front of” their goalies. McDavid has an eight-game scoring drought but is among the NHL’s scoring leaders. Former Ducks winger Patrick Maroon leads Edmonton with six goals. Ducks forward Chris Wagner was placed on waivers as a potential salary-cap option to re-assign him.

sports@latimes.com