Edmonton Oilers
Oilers’ Nugent-Hopkins Misses Warmups, Won’t Play vs. Senators
Ryan Nugent Hopkins did not take part in the pre-game warmups and will not play for the Oilers vs. the Senators.
** Update. Oilers Now Host and color commentator Bob Stauffer updated Nugent-Hopkins’ status as the game began. The forward is out with an illness.
Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was notably absent from warmups ahead of the team’s matchup against the Ottawa Senators, raising questions about his availability for the game. Not long after that Tony Brar confirmed Nugent-Hopkins would not be playing.
Derek Ryan took his slot in the pre-game skate. Viktor Arvidsson was bumped up to the top line to play alongside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman. It’s not clear who will slot in on the power play.
Adjusted lines:
- Arvidsson-McDavid-Hyman
- Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Kapanen
- Janmark-Henrique-Brown
- Skinner-Ryan-Perry
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is not on the ice for warm up. He will not play vs. OTT. #Oilers
— Tony Brar ? (@TonyBrarOTV) December 23, 2024
As one of the Oilers’ most versatile players, Nugent-Hopkins is a key piece of both the Oilers’ power play and penalty kill units. His versatility has made him a critical part of Edmonton’s strategy this season.
His absence could indicate a potential injury or a precautionary measure in a back-to-back situation where the veteran might have been banged up versus the San Jose Sharks. No official statement had been provided at the time of this report. It is likely head coach Kris Knoblauch will comment on Nuge’s status after the game.
Last-minute lineup adjustments are not uncommon in the NHL, often prompted by injury management or strategic shifts, but losing Nugent-Hopkins, even temporarily, could impact the Oilers’ game plan as the Senators are red-hot, having won six games in a row.
With no confirmation on the extent or reason for Nugent-Hopkins’ absence, fans will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on updates. The hope is that this isn’t anything serious and the Oilers are just taking extra caution ahead of the holiday break and giving him a chance to rest.
It’s not believed Nugent-Hopkins is being made a healthy scratch for performance-related issues.
Next: Miller on Rift with Pettersson: “You Guys Have Created This Thing”
More News
