Ryan Nugent-Hopkins hits injured reserve as Oilers recall Josh Samanski

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will remain out of the Edmonton Oilers lineup, with the club moving the veteran forward to injured reserve early in the new NHL season. The move comes after he sat out the team’s season opener against the Vancouver Canucks.

In response, the Oilers have brought up forward Josh Samanski from their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield on an emergency recall. Nugent-Hopkins had initially been listed as day-to-day, but his placement on injured reserve confirms he will miss additional time.

Key second-line centre sidelined for Oilers

Nugent-Hopkins, 33, is entering his 16th season with Edmonton after being selected first overall by the franchise at the 2011 NHL Draft. He has been a long-time fixture in the club’s top six and was expected to anchor the second line again this year.

Last season, the Burnaby, B.C., native scored 20 goals for the seventh time in his career and added 36 assists across 72 games. Over 1,031 regular-season appearances, all with the Oilers, he has totalled 804 points on 291 goals and 513 assists.

His absence presents an early challenge for new head coach Mike Babcock as he prepares for Thursday’s rematch with the Canucks in Vancouver. Without Nugent-Hopkins in the middle, Babcock may be pushed to spread out his offence by deploying Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as centres on separate lines rather than loading them together.

Samanski steps in as injuries mount

Samanski, 24, saw action in 24 games for the Oilers last season, contributing two goals and four points. The emergency recall provides Edmonton with an additional forward option, though it does not fully replace the experience and responsibility normally carried by Nugent-Hopkins.

The Oilers are also dealing with longer-term absences elsewhere in the lineup. The club announced that forward Matt Savoie and defenceman Alex Regula have been placed on long-term injured reserve to start the season, further testing the organization’s depth up front and on the blue line.

With three skaters already sidelined, Edmonton enters the early stretch of the schedule managing notable injuries at multiple positions. How Babcock rearranges his forward units and defensive pairings in Vancouver will offer the first glimpse of how the Oilers intend to navigate this short-handed start.