Edmonton Oilers News

Nurse, 20, had a nice preseason and some thought that he would at least get another preseason game, but he has been sent to the minors where he will wait for his next shot. The AHL has developed Anton Lander and Oscar Klefbom into great players, so the Oilers appear to be content to be patient with the former seventh overall pick. There’s a very strong chance Nurse gets recalled at some point during the season.

McDavid becomes the Oilers fourth 1st overall pick in the last six years. The 18-year-old phenom has dominated the OHL for the last two seasons and was the consensus number-1 overall pick coming into the draft. He finished the 2014-15 season with 44 goals and 76 assists (120 points) in 47 games with Erie. He did not slow down in the playoffs either, tallying 49 points (21G / 28A) in 20 contests. He wraps up his junior career with 97 goals and 188 assists (285 points) in 166 career regular season games.

Hyman, 22, is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, but is expected to get a deal done with the Maple Leafs. Hyman is a Toronto native and was a Hobey Baker finalist in the NCAA after scored 22 goals with 32 assists (54 points) in 37 games at the University of Michigan.

Nugent-Hopkins is in danger of missing his second straight game with a lower-body injury. Monitor his status in the morning skate, but it doesn’t look like he will be available vs. the Kings.

Ekholm has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, but will be back in tonight vs. the Devils. Ekholm is expected to be paired with Victor Bartley. Ekholm has five goals, eight assists (13 points) and a plus-10 rating in 53 games this season.

Murphy missed Tuesday’s game in St. Louis, but will be back in tonight vs. the Sharks. Murphy has no points in his last eight games and has just six points (3G / 3A) in 49 games this season.

Ekholm missed Tuesday’s game vs. Tampa Bay, but his presence for the morning skate suggests that he might return tonight vs. the Jets. Monitor his status after the morning skate.

Ekholm suffered and upper-body injury in the Predators win over the Panthers on Sunday. His absence from the morning skate suggests that Ekholm will not be in the lineup tonight vs. the Lightning. With Ekholm out, Anthony Bitetto will be in the lineup.

In the second period, Ekholm was injured went into the boards hard and was forced to leave the game. With Ryan Ellis already out, the Predators can’t afford to lose Ekholm too. Expect an update on his status on Monday.

Draisaitl, 19, opened the season as the Oilers’ second line centre. The experiment did not really go as planned. He registered nine points (2G / 7A) in 37 games and now heads back to the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. It is best for Draisaitl’s development, especially in a tough year for Edmonton.

Draisaitl did not practice on Monday and his status for Tuesday’s game vs. the Kings is up in the air. Monitor his status during the Oilers’ morning skate on Tuesday.

Murphy has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury that he suffered on December 1st. He will be paired with Andrew Campbell who was recalled from Portland on Friday. Murphy has four points (2G / 2A) in 25 games this season.

Murphy will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury that he suffered on Monday vs. the Oilers. He is listed as day-to-day.

Drasaitl has a career-high ice-time of 15:22, but he will likely top that tonight while playing with Hall and Purcell. He has five points (2G / 3A) with a minus-6 rating in the first 19 games of his NHL career.

Draisaitl, 19, scored his first NHL goal last Friday and sits with three points (1G / 2A) in hie first nine NHL games. Game 39 becomes the new deadline, if he goes back to junior before that time he will lose the first year of his ELC, but none of his unrestricted free agent status.

Nugent-Hopkins missed the last two games, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Canucks. The first line rushes he took were with Nail Yakupov and Teddy Purcell, but then he was reportedly between Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall at the end of practice, so expect him to be in his usual spot on the top-line. He has one assist in two games.

Nugent-Hopkins is on the ice for the Oilers morning skate and is participating in line rushes, which suggests he will return to the lineup tonight after missing the last two games. RNH is skating on the third line with Nail Yakupov and Teddy Purcell. Monitor his status following the morning skate.

Nurse had no points with a minus-2 rating and two shots in his first two NHL games. The 19-year-old will get one more year of junior and have a chance to stick with the Oilers full-time next season. He had 13 goals with 37 assists (50 points) in 64 games with Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) last season.

Nugent-Hopkins skated on Tuesday but missed yesterday's game against the Kings and will not play tonight vs. the Coyotes. However, it is a positive sign that he has skated two days in a row, so consider him day-to-day.