NHL Status Report: Nugent-Hopkins to miss Oilers opener

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

Edmonton Oilers

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will not play for the Oilers in their season-opener against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; SN). The forward was injured at the end of practice Monday with a lower-body injury. He had 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) in 63 games last season. "You just got to figure out how you play it and so we're going to figure out how to play it," Oilers coach Mike Babcock said.

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 time frame on his return. He played in Buffalo's preseason game on Sept. 26, but begins the season injured reserve. The Sabres begin the season at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; CBJHN, CBJNHL, MSG-B).

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+).

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.

Vancouver Canucks

Jake DeBrusk didn't practice Monday while being evaluated for a lower-body injury, but coach Manny Malhotra said the forward would be available for the season opener at the  Oilers on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; SN). "We just needed an extra day to evaluate," Malhotra said. "We don't expect any changes to his availability (Tuesday). Just wanted to make sure that he felt good today and got things taken care of." Malhotra said the injury occurred during a preseason game against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday when DeBrusk was hit by a shot by teammate Brock Boeser. DeBrusk could open the season on Vancouver's top line, alongside Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Lekkerimaki. Arshdeep Bains practiced in DeBrusk's spot Monday.

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).