The Edmonton Oilers have suffered a setback as veteran forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is expected to be out of the lineup for approximately one week due to an undisclosed injury. The news comes at a difficult time for the Oilers, who are looking to find consistency after a recent 9-1 defeat.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed the injury on Monday, stating that Nugent-Hopkins would not be available for the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. While Knoblauch estimated the absence to be around a week, there is speculation that he tends to be optimistic regarding player recovery timelines.

Nugent-Hopkins' absence is a significant loss for Edmonton. The 32-year-old has been a key player in the Oilers' top six, contributing on both the power play and penalty kill. Through 16 games this season, he has recorded 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists) and has been one of the team's more consistent forwards.

In related news, another Oilers forward, Zach Hyman, is nearing his return but will not play against Columbus. Hyman has been out since Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars on May 27, where he suffered a wrist injury. He underwent surgery during the offseason and was placed on long-term injured reserve. While it was initially hoped he would return in early November, his return has been delayed.

Coach Knoblauch mentioned on Friday, November 7th, that Hyman is expected to return sometime next week. Hyman has been practicing with the team and appears to be nearing his season debut, although a specific date is not yet confirmed.

The Oilers are also anticipating the return of center Mattias Janmark. Janmark has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury since the preseason. Knoblauch indicated that Janmark is "very close" to returning and could potentially play in the game against the Blue Jackets. With Janmark's expected return, the Oilers will need to make a roster move, likely sending a player to the AHL to comply with roster restrictions. Ike Howard, David Tomasek, or Matt Savoie are potential candidates to be demoted.

The Oilers (6-5-4) are currently fourth in the Pacific Division and are looking to bounce back after a two-game losing streak.