Edmonton Oilers put veteran centre Nugent-Hopkins on injured reserve

EDMONTON — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will miss his second straight game Thursday as the Edmonton Oilers visit the Vancouver Canucks.

The veteran forward has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury suffered in practice Monday.

Nugent-Hopkins also sat out Edmonton’s 6-5 overtime loss to Vancouver in Tuesday’s season opener.

Head coach Mike Babcock called Nugent-Hopkins day-to-day, but added that to him that usually means “two weeks.”

Zach Hyman will be absent for Thursday’s contest with an upper-body injury.

Babcock said after morning skate that the winger picked up the ailment during Saturday’s pre-season contest with the Calgary Flames and is “day-to-day.”

Hyman logged 20:33 in ice time and registered three shots in Tuesday’s loss.

The Oilers also placed forward Matthew Savoie and defenceman Alec Regula on long-term injured reserve.

Edmonton recalled forward Josh Samanski from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors under emergency conditions.


Babcock confirmed the Oilers will make a change in goal for Thursday’s game, starting Devon Levi in place of Tristan Jarry.

Jarry made 17 stops on 23 shots in Edmonton’s loss on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2026.