Edmonton Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will become the franchise’s all-time leader in games played when takes the ice against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old centre is currently tied with Hockey Hall of Famer Kevin Lowe at 1,037 career games.
Lowe, who won five Stanley Cups during his time with the Oilers from 1979-1992, was team president when Nugent-Hopkins was drafted first overall in 2011.
“He’s been a solid player and a fan favourite since he arrived,” Lowe told the Edmonton Journal. “Playing that many games for one organization says tons about his talent, consistency and, of course, his character.
“He’s been through the highs and lows as an Oiler but through it all, he’s represented the Oilers and the city of Edmonton with class.”
Nugent-Hopkins is off to a strong start this season with three goals and seven points in six games after missing time to start the year with a lower-body injury.
He sits eighth in the franchise record books with 294 goals, sixth in assists with 517 and seventh in points in 811.
Edmonton missed the postseason in Nugent-Hopkins’ first five seasons with the team and seven of his first eight. The team, however, has reached the playoffs in each of the past seasons.
The Oilers enter play Tuesday sitting first in the Western Conference with an 11-2-2 record through 15 games.