Nugent-Hopkins out for Oilers' season opener vs. Canucks
The Edmonton Oilers will be without their second-line centre as they open the season at home against Vancouver.
Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will sit out the team's season opener against the visiting Vancouver Canucks with a lower-body injury, the club announced Tuesday. Nugent-Hopkins is entering his 16th season with the Oilers after being taken first overall in the 2011 NHL draft, and has 804 points, including 291 goals and 513 assists, over 1,031 regular-season games with the team.
The Burnaby, B.C. native scored 20 goals last season, the seventh time he has reached that mark, along with 36 assists over 72 games. He normally centres Edmonton's second line, and his absence could push new head coach Mike Babcock to split superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl onto separate lines at centre for the opener.
Asked how long Nugent-Hopkins would be sidelined, Babcock said a 'day to day' designation typically means about two weeks. Babcock also confirmed goaltender Tristan Jarry will start in net, with recent acquisition Frederik Andersen out until December because of a knee injury.
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