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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Out 5-6 Weeks With Cracked Ribs

Turns out “Bruised Sternum” was just an opening act

By Jeff Chapman
Edmonton Oilers v Vegas Golden Knights
See you in March, Nugey
Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images

The Oilers haven’t had a good year. They’re barely clinging to whatever slim playoff hopes they had before entering the bye week. Winning just 20 games out of their first 46 has nearly sealed their fate. They can’t afford to have any hiccups in the remaining games if they’re going to make any inroads to the playoffs.

What began as “bruising” after a hit from Vegas’ Brayden McNabb turned into a “bruised sternum” for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins yesterday. A “bruised sternum” today turned into “cracked ribs”, which is much less encouraging. Nugent-Hopkins is likely to be shelved for five to six weeks, which absolutely doesn’t help Edmonton’s chances down the stretch.

GIVE ME SOME GOOD NEWS, DAMMIT

There’s nothing good to say right here, other than Chiarelli probably won’t be able to trade someone on the IR for some backwards return that will send a thirty cents on the dollar back to the Oilers. The NHL trade deadline is just over a month away, and I’ve already planned on getting a whole lot of not much on expiring contracts.

The Oilers had better have a contingency plan.

Yeah, Ryan Strome. Someone liquor me up already.