The Edmonton Oilers, who underwent numerous changes in leadership during the offseason behind the bench, are set to open up the 2026-27 NHL campaign in which they'll hope for a better fate than their first-round loss in the postseason this spring.

However, they're already behind the 8-ball when it comes to injuries. Not only are they short forward Jason Dickinson and offseason acquisition Frederik Andersen, but now they've lost another key member of the team.

Oilers head coach Mike Babcock announced that forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who is the longest-tenured member of the club, is unavailable for their season opener

“Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (LBI) is not available tonight for the Edmonton Oilers, according to Mike Babcock,” wrote longtime Oilers Insider Bob Stauffer on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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According to star captain Connor McDavid, the absence of key players will necessitate others who are available on the roster to step up their own individual performances.

“Obviously there is going to be guys asked to do different things and put in different spots,” McDavid said via NHL.com. “That's the nature of this business; it's a long season. It's Day 1, but these things happen throughout the course of the season, and we have to adjust as we go.”

Taken by the Oilers with the first overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, Nugent-Hopkins has played his entire career in an Oilers jersey. During his tenure, he's seen the lows and the highs, from finishing in the lottery to coming within a single victory of winning the Stanley Cup.

He's appeared in 1,031 games and has scored 291 goals with 513 assists, while contributing another 25 goals and 61 assists in 102 Stanley Cup Playoff games.