Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on his way to become only player to play first 1000 games with Edmonton

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is set to play his 1,000th NHL game, becoming the first player to achieve this milestone solely with the Oilers. Drafted first overall in 2011, he navigated Edmonton’s challenging “Decade of Darkness,” witnessing teammates depart. His consistent, low-maintenance presence and on-ice reliability have made him a franchise cornerstone.