SUNRISE, Fla. — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was in the lineup for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday.
The versatile forward had missed Sunday`s practice due to an undisclosed injury. He later joined the team`s optional morning skate approximately 24 hours afterward at Amerant Bank Arena.
Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch stated that Nugent-Hopkins would participate in warm-ups and his status for the game would be decided just before puck drop, with the championship series rematch against the Florida Panthers currently tied 1-1.
The 32-year-old skater took part in line rushes in his usual position on the Oilers` top line, playing alongside Connor McDavid and Corey Perry, before his participation in the game was officially confirmed.
Meanwhile, Florida Panthers winger A.J. Greer returned to the lineup after missing the first two games of the final due to injury, replacing Jesper Boqvist.
As the longest-tenured player on the Oilers` roster, Nugent-Hopkins recorded 20 goals and 29 assists for a total of 49 points in 78 games during the 2024-25 season.
Drafted first overall in the 2011 NHL draft from Burnaby, B.C., his career statistics include 748 points (271 goals, 477 assists) over 959 regular-season games. In 92 playoff appearances, he has accumulated an additional 79 points (22 goals, 57 assists).
“He`s been a top player for us for a long time,” Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak praised Nugent-Hopkins before Monday`s game. “He`s been amazing through our whole playoff run.”
Nugent-Hopkins, a key member of both the top power-play and penalty-killing units, provides the Oilers with tactical flexibility, capable of shifting between wing and centre, particularly when the team opts to form a powerful line featuring both McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Knoblauch admitted that managing the team`s lines would be significantly more challenging if Nugent-Hopkins were unavailable.
The coach explained, “We don`t have many centers on our roster. It does change what we can do.”
Veteran winger Jeff Skinner was preparing to step into the lineup should Nugent-Hopkins, who had accumulated five goals and 13 assists in 18 playoff games prior to Monday, be unable to play.
The 33-year-old Skinner scored the first playoff goal of his career in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars, contributing to Edmonton`s series-clinching 6-3 win. Skinner posted 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points in 72 regular-season games for the Oilers in 2024-25.
Greer rejoined Florida`s effective fourth line, playing alongside Tomas Nosek and Jonah Gadjovich. The 28-year-old from Joliette, Quebec, has tallied two goals and one assist in 12 playoff appearances this spring.
