The Edmonton Oilers will be without centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for their season-opener against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.
Head coach Mike Babcock confirmed Nugent-Hopkins will be sidelined by a lower-body injury and said he remains without a timeline to make his season debut. He did note, though, that Nugent-Hopkins is only expected to be out short-term.
The injury is a major blow to Edmonton’s centre depth and could force Babcock to split up stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl after the two spent all of camp on a line together.
The 33-year-old Nugent-Hopkins had 20 goals and 56 points in 72 games with the Oilers last season, adding two goals and five points in six playoff games.
Selected first overall in the 2011 draft, Nugent-Hopkins is entering his 16th season with the Oilers.
