The Edmonton Oilers placed the veteran centre on injured reserve Monday after he sat out Tuesday’s season opener against the Vancouver Canucks.
Josh Samanski has been recalled from AHL Bakersfield under emergency conditions, the Oilers announced. Nugent-Hopkins was initially listed as day-to-day.
The 33-year-old is entering his 16th season with the Oilers after being selected by the team first overall at the 2011 NHL draft.
The forward from Burnaby, B.C., had 20 goals last year — hitting that mark for the seventh time in his career — while adding 36 assists over 72 games. He has 804 points (291 goals, 513 assists) over 1,031 regular-season games with Edmonton.
Nugent-Hopkins is expected to centre Edmonton’s second line this season, and his absence may force new coach Mike Babcock to play superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at centre on separate lines in a rematch against the Canucks.
Samanski, 24, played 24 games last season with the Oilers and registered two goals and four points.
Edmonton also announced that forward Matt Savoie and defenceman Alex Regula have been placed on long-term injured reserve to begin the season.
The Oilers return to action Thursday against the Canucks in Vancouver. Watch live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
— With files from The Canadian Press