Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins announced to the media on Friday after Oilers practice in Leduc an updated status of centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. 

"I want to start off and say there's been some terrible reporting, people that think they have the inside scoop on Nugent-Hopkins, that he'll play next Saturday against Toronto or Thursday against Montreal and it's totally false," the head coach began. "He will play Monday against New Jersey."

Nugent-Hopkins was excited about the prospect of getting back in the lineup.

"I'm feeling really good," said Nugent-Hopkins. "The healing is done and my strength is up where it needs to be. Those were the two biggest things. Obviously I needed to get some contact in and I've had a couple weeks of that now. Everything is going really good."

READ MORE: Coach Eakins announces RNH will return Monday

VIDEO

• Full story on RNH's return
• RAW - Dallas Eakins
• RAW - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
• RAW - Sam Gagner

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• Dallas Eakins
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
• Sam Gagner