NHL Status Report: Nugent-Hopkins misses Oilers opener

Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.

Edmonton Oilers

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins did not play for the Oilers in their season opener against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. The forward sustained a lower-body injury at the end of practice Monday. He had 56 points (20 goals, 36 assists) in 72 games last season. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who were expected to be on the same line, were split up with Nugent-Hopkins out. "Obviously, there is going to be guys asked to do different things and put in different spots," McDavid said. "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." ... Oilers coach Mike Babcock said he doesn't expect goalie Frederik Andersen back until "maybe" December.  The goalie has been dealing with a knee injury. Forward Jason Dickinson (foot) is still "a bit" away, and forward Matt Savoie (lower body) will be out another eight weeks. There was no timeline on Mattias Janmark, who is recovering from a prior medical procedure.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Carson Soucy signed a one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The 32-year-old defenseman had been in camp on a professional tryout contract. He had 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 76 games for the New York Islanders and New York Rangers last season and has played 441 games over eight seasons. "Carson has had an excellent camp and has earned this opportunity, and we are very pleased to add him to our group," Columbus general manager Don Waddell said. "He has good size (6-foot-4, 211 pounds) and strength and will give us another steady, veteran presence on the blue line."

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New York Islanders

Matthew Schaefer and Kyle Palmieri will be alternate captains on home ice, with Brayden Schenn and Ryan Pulock serving on the road. Schaefer, who turned 19 on Sept. 5, becomes the youngest alternate captain in Islanders history. "It's crazy to think. There's just so many leaders in this room," Schaefer said. "I think you just got to stay being yourself. Guys like you for who you are. But just keep learning. Bo Horvat was named captain on Sept. 14 following Anders Lee's departure this offseason. ... Forward Mathew Barzal traveled with the Islanders to Toronto after missing training camp due to aggravating a prior injury that caused inflammation, but is expected to miss their season opener against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; Prime, MSGSN). "He's around in all our team meetings," Islanders coach Pete DeBoer said. "He's preparing just like everyone else, doing everything except getting on the ice," DeBoer said. "I think that's coming. It's around the corner. I've heard positive things." Barzal led New York with 72 points (19 goals, 53 assists) in 81 games last season and has led or tied for the team scoring lead in seven of nine seasons since being selected by the Islanders in the first round (No. 16) of the 2015 NHL Draft.

Utah Mammoth

Maveric Lamoureux had surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder and will be out 4-6 months, Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong announced on Monday. The 22-year-old defenseman had one assist in five regular-season games with Utah last season, and 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 65 games with Tucson of the American Hockey League. Lamoureux was a first-round pick (No. 29) by the Arizona Coyotes at the 2022 NHL Draft. The Mammoth play their regular-season opener at home against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; Disney+, HULU, ESPN+).

Buffalo Sabres

Mattias Samuelsson skated Tuesday and could practice Wednesday, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. The defenseman was injured in a preseason game on Sept. 22 after blocking a shot and had been listed as week to week with a lower-body injury. ... Defenseman Olen Zellweger is day to day; he has been in concussion protocol since Sept. 22. ... Forward Conor Timmins has a lower-body injury and there is no timeline on his return. He played in Buffalo's preseason game on Sept. 26, but is on injured reserve. The Sabres begin the season at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; CBJHN, CBJNHL, MSG-B).

Colorado Avalanche

Forwards Logan O'Connor and Zachary L'Heureux will not play for the Avalanche in their season opener against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT). Each was placed on injured reserve Monday and considered day to day because of a lower-body injury sustained during the preseason. As a result, Colorado will dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen to start the season. O'Connor missed 69 regular-season games in 2025-26 with a lower-body injury. L'Heureux was acquired in a trade with the Nashville Predators on June 24.

St. Louis Blues

Logan Mailloux will miss at least eight weeks after having surgery on his right hand, the Blues announced on Monday. The defenseman had the procedure Sunday and has been placed on injured reserve. He had been expected to start the season on the right side of one of their top defense pairs. "He's had a great (training) camp but that's the game," general manager Alexander Steen said. "These things pop up sometimes when things are going good and it's not the right timing. But it's part of the game and Logan is in a good headspace, everything went well yesterday. Now his main goal is to rehab and get himself as prepared as he was for camp for when he's able to return. At that time, grab an oar and start rowing with the boys again." ... Defenseman Tyler Tucker was placed on IR on Monday because of a lower-body injury and is considered week to week.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Bryan Rust was placed on injured reserve Monday. The forward sustained an upper-body injury during a 3-1 win in a preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. "'Rusty' is obviously a huge part of our group," coach Dan Muse said Sunday. "I thought he had a great camp, and so, it's unfortunate." Also going on injured reserve were forwards Justin Brazeau (lower body), Ben Kindel (lower body), Blake Lizotte (upper body) and defenseman Ryan Graves (knee); Lizotte is considered day to day, Brazeau and Kindel are considered week to week, and Graves is out indefinitely. "Ryan Graves at the end of last season actually had surgery on one of his knees to get it cleaned out," general manager Kyle Dubas said Monday. "That knee is causing him issues so we're going to get that knee rehabbed and then his other knee is also having issues so once we get the first part addressed we'll move onto the other knee and get him back up to 100 percent." The Penguins open the season at the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT).