Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: 1,000 Games of Quiet Greatness in Edmonton
There’s something special about a player who does it all in one jersey. On Sunday, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will become the first player in Edmonton Oilers history to play 1,000 games exclusively with the franchise. That’s more than a milestone - it’s a legacy.
Drafted first overall in 2011, Nugent-Hopkins has quietly and consistently carved out a career defined by loyalty, versatility, and a knack for rising to the moment. He’s second only to Kevin Lowe (1,037) in games played for the Oilers, but when it comes to doing it all - scoring, assisting, killing penalties, quarterbacking the power play, and even dropping the gloves now and then - few have worn the Oilers crest with more all-around impact.
Let’s rewind the tape and look at how it all started - and how far he’s come.
Day One: Welcome to the Show
October 9, 2011. Rexall Place.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were in town, and a fresh-faced Nugent-Hopkins was suiting up for his first NHL game. It didn’t take long for him to leave a mark.
With five minutes left in regulation and the Oilers trailing 1-0, Nugent-Hopkins found himself in the thick of the action. Working alongside Ales Hemsky and Taylor Hall, the rookie cycled the puck low, then drove to the net. After a slick between-the-legs pass from Hall and a bounce off Hemsky, Nugent-Hopkins pounced on the loose puck, drawing a penalty and burying a backhand rebound through Brent Johnson’s pads.
First NHL game. First NHL goal.
Game tied. The Oilers would go on to win in a shootout.
Not a bad way to start your career.
Hat Trick in Game Three
If his debut was a hint of what was to come, his third game was a full-on statement. On October 15, 2011, in his first Hockey Night in Canada appearance, Nugent-Hopkins lit up the Vancouver Canucks for his first career hat trick.
The goals came in a variety of ways - a hallmark of his offensive game. The first came on the power play, with Hall feeding Jordan Eberle, who found Nugent-Hopkins on the backdoor. It took three whacks at the puck mid-air, but he made it count.
Then, with seconds left in the first period, he redirected a Tom Gilbert point shot past Roberto Luongo - a savvy deflection that showed off his hockey IQ.
The third goal, late in the second period, was pure hustle. Hall drove the puck hard to the net, and when it squirted loose, Nugent-Hopkins was there to finish the job.
The hats didn’t fly right away - there was some confusion about who got the goal - but the feat was official. Three games into his NHL career, and he already had a hat trick on his résumé.
Sneaky Tough: The First Fight
Nugent-Hopkins isn’t the first name you think of when it comes to NHL fighters, but don’t let the smooth skating and soft hands fool you - he’s got some grit.
His first NHL fight came on October 11, 2014, against Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis. Killing off the final seconds of a penalty, Nugent-Hopkins carried the puck into the offensive zone and was leveled with a big hit along the boards. He didn’t hesitate - he popped up, got in Hamhuis’ face, and the gloves came off.
It wasn’t a long scrap, but it was spirited. Both landed a few shots, and while Hamhuis edged the fan vote on HockeyFights, Nugent-Hopkins earned respect for standing up for himself.
Since then, he’s dropped the gloves four more times - against Vinnie Hinostroza (2017), Sean Monahan (2020), Justin Holl (2023), and most recently Neal Pionk (2025). He’s not a brawler, but he’s not afraid to answer the bell when the moment calls for it.
Milestone Tracker: The Numbers Behind the Journey
Over 1,000 games, Nugent-Hopkins has stacked up an impressive list of milestones. He’s been a model of consistency, whether playing alongside the likes of Hall, Eberle, McDavid, or Draisaitl.
Playoff Milestones:
- First playoff game: April 12, 2017 vs.
San Jose Sharks
- First playoff point: April 26, 2017 (assist on a Mark Letestu goal)
- First playoff goal: August 1, 2020 (assisted by Oscar Klefbom and Leon Draisaitl)
Scoring Milestones:
- 100th point: Dec. 10, 2013 (assist on Jordan Eberle goal)
- 200th point: Nov. 8, 2015
- 300th point: Mar. 10, 2018 (assist on Connor McDavid goal)
- 400th point: Dec.
12, 2019
- 500th point: Dec.
3, 2021
- 600th point: Feb. 23, 2023 (assist on McDavid goal)
- 700th point: Oct. 12, 2024 (assist on Draisaitl goal)
Goal Milestones:
- 100th goal: Nov. 1, 2017 (assisted by Pat Maroon and McDavid)
- 200th goal: Oct. 26, 2022 (assisted by McDavid and Zach Hyman)
Assist Milestones:
- 100th assist: Nov. 25, 2014 (on a Taylor Hall goal)
- 200th assist: Oct. 23, 2018 (on a Draisaitl goal)
- 300th assist: Oct. 22, 2021 (on a Draisaitl goal)
- 400th assist: Oct. 14, 2023 (on a McDavid goal)
- 500th assist: Jan. 6, 2026 (on a McDavid goal)
A Career of Consistency and Class
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins may not always grab the headlines, but ask anyone in the Oilers locker room or around the league - he’s the kind of player every team wants. Reliable.
Skilled. Team-first.
And now, a 1,000-game man.
He’s been through the lean years, the rebuilds, the playoff droughts, and now the resurgence. Through it all, he’s stayed the course - evolving his game, embracing new roles, and delivering when it matters.
In an era of player movement and short-term stints, Nugent-Hopkins’ loyalty to Edmonton stands out. He’s not just part of the Oilers’ history - he’s helped shape it.
And with 1,000 games in the books, he’s not done writing his story just yet.