Already off to a red-hot start this season, the Edmonton Oilers are getting a major piece back from injury.
Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be back in the Oilers' lineup Thursday when they host the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, head coach Mike Babcock told reporters after Tuesday's win over the Minnesota Wild.
Nugent-Hopkins has yet to lace up this season after suffering a lower-body injury in practice ahead of the team's season opener in late September. He was placed on the injured reserve soon after on Oct. 1.
The 33-year-old is entering his 16th season with the Oilers after being selected by the team first overall at the 2011 NHL draft.
The forward from Burnaby, B.C., had 20 goals last year — hitting that mark for the seventh time in his career — while adding 36 assists over 72 games. He has 804 points (291 goals, 513 assists) over 1,031 regular-season games with Edmonton.
Nugent-Hopkins is expected to centre Edmonton's second line this season.
The Oilers are 7-1-1 to start the season and sit second in the Pacific behind the Vegas Golden Knights.
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