Edmonton Oilers
Oilers’ Early-Season Road Bumps Get Bigger With Latest Injury Buzz
The Oilers suffered another major setback as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was placed on IR. They continue to battle injuries as they try to get going.
The Edmonton Oilers can’t seem to catch a break. Just as they were hoping to build some stability after yet another uneven start, the team announced that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been placed on injured reserve — a move that immediately derails any momentum they were trying to generate.
For a team desperate for any off-the-ice wins — good injury news, returning players, lineup clarity — the sense that Nugent-Hopkins could be out longer than expected is the exact opposite. Nugent-Hopkins has quietly been among the Oilers’ most consistent forwards this season, producing 16 points in 16 games while playing in every key situation. Losing him now is a gut punch.
The Oilers said he’ll be out “at least a week,” but others aren’t so sure that’s going to how little time he misses
Jason Gregor of Sports 1440 noted that anytime the Oilers or head coach Kris Knoblauch has said a week, it’s probably two. Every injury this season has ended up longer than the initial prognosis.
Some teams have had a greater number of injuries than Edmonton. That said, the Oilers’ early injuries haven’t helped their start to the season. They were missing Jake Walman and Mattias Janmark to start the year. Zach Hyman hasn’t yet returned from a long-term injury and might not be back until the end of this week. Alec Regula was sidelined early. Instead of gaining traction, they’re losing another core piece — this time one of their most reliable, steadying veterans.
Nugent-Hopkins isn’t a flashy player, but he’s dependable. Even when he’s not scoring, he brings a lot to the team. He drives the second or third line, supports special teams, and provides leadership that the team will miss. Without him, the Oilers’ already-shaky lineup balance gets even shakier.
For a team trying to right the ship, this isn’t just bad timing. It’s a setback that threatens to slow things down even further — and the Oilers don’t have much runway left to waste.
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