Edmonton to Celebrate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ 1,000-Game Milestone with Special Ceremony
In a league full of movement, trades, and short stints, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been the rare constant-a steady, loyal presence in Edmonton for over a decade. And now, the Oilers are set to honor that loyalty in a big way.
On Sunday, January 18, the Oilers will celebrate Nugent-Hopkins reaching the 1,000-game milestone with a pre-game ceremony at Rogers Place ahead of their matchup against the St. Louis Blues. It’s a moment that’s been 15 seasons in the making, and it marks a significant chapter in both the player’s career and the franchise’s history.
At 32 years old, Nugent-Hopkins becomes the first player to play all 1,000 of his NHL games in an Oilers sweater. That’s not just a stat-it’s a testament to his consistency, professionalism, and the value he’s brought to the team year in and year out. He’ll be the 417th player in NHL history to hit the 1,000-game mark, but very few have done it while staying with one organization from start to finish.
Drafted first overall in 2011 out of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels, Nugent-Hopkins wasted no time making an impact. He scored his first NHL goal in his debut on October 9, 2011, against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Rexall Place, and went on to put up 52 points in 62 games as a rookie-good enough for second in Calder Trophy voting. From that moment on, he’s been a fixture in the Oilers lineup, adapting his game as the team evolved around him.
As of Friday, he’s tallied 282 goals and 503 assists for 785 points in 998 games-a stat line that speaks to both his offensive talent and his ability to contribute in all areas of the ice. He’s become one of the league’s most respected two-way forwards, trusted in every situation: five-on-five, power play, penalty kill-you name it, he’s out there.
The 2022-23 season added another impressive chapter to his story. In his 12th year in the league, Nugent-Hopkins hit the 100-point mark for the first time-something only five other players in NHL history have done that late in their careers. In the last half-century, only Steven Stamkos has joined that exclusive club.
He didn’t stop there. During the 2025 Western Conference Final, Nugent-Hopkins made a bit of franchise history, becoming the first Oiler since Wayne Gretzky in 1988 to record at least nine points in the first four games of a conference final. That’s the kind of company that doesn’t need much introduction.
But Nugent-Hopkins’ impact has extended far beyond the rink. In 2025, he was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his tireless work supporting Cystic Fibrosis awareness, research, and treatment-an effort he shares with his wife, Breanne.
It’s a cause close to their hearts, and one that’s earned him league-wide respect. He was previously nominated for the NHL’s King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2018 for his humanitarian work.
Sunday’s ceremony is more than just a celebration of longevity-it’s a tribute to a player who’s given everything to his team, his city, and the game. For Oilers fans, it’s a chance to recognize a career built on consistency, character, and quiet excellence.
Tickets for the game are still available at EdmontonOilers.com/Tickets. If you’ve followed Nugent-Hopkins’ journey from that first goal in 2011 to now, this is a moment worth witnessing.