The Edmonton Oilers shuffled their roster again Thursday, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins landing on injured reserve and Josh Samanski coming back up under emergency conditions ahead of the rematch with the Vancouver Canucks.
Nugent-Hopkins missed the season opener, and the club still hasn’t said much publicly about the injury. It happened late in Monday’s practice, and the belief is that it’s a lower-body issue.
He was treated during the home opener, which is why he was not introduced. Officially, he’s listed as “day-to-day,” though coach Mike Babcock was preparing for a two-week absence.
Samanski gives Babcock another forward option as he continues sorting out his lines. His defensive game is part of the appeal. That matters with Owen Michaels still very new to the pro level after making his first appearance on Tuesday, Colton Dach still adjusting to the NHL, and Jason Dickinson also listed as “day-to-day.”
With Samanski added, the Oilers have 13 forwards available. He spent last season with Edmonton, appearing in 24 regular-season games and five of the team’s six playoff games. He finished with two goals and four points.
No lineup had been announced as of 11 a.m. MT.
Edmonton also moved Matt Savoie and Alec Regula to long-term injured reserve, with both injuries labeled “month-to-month.” Babcock said Tuesday that Savoie was “eight weeks away,” while GM Stan Bowman had given Jason Gregor a shorter timetable on Monday. Savoie scored 18 goals and had 37 points last season.
Regula is working back from offseason surgery. There had been hope he would start skating soon, but that hasn’t happened yet. Atro Leppänen is still technically on the roster, but he’s listed as out after blocking a shot in the preseason.
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