Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins recently celebrated a significant milestone, skating in his 1,000th NHL game on January 18, 2026. All of those games have been played with the Oilers, making him the first player in franchise history to reach that mark. Selected first overall by the Oilers in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Nugent-Hopkins, nicknamed "Nuge," has been a key part of the team since his debut as an 18-year-old in the 2011-12 season.

Nugent-Hopkins has consistently filled important roles for the Oilers, playing on the first power-play unit, contributing to the penalty kill, and maintaining a top-six role throughout his career. He has also delivered in crucial moments. In a 4-1 victory against the Dallas Stars during Game 4 of the 2025 Western Conference Final, his two assists made him the first Oiler since Wayne Gretzky in 1988 to record at least nine points in the first four games of a conference final.

Despite his consistent performance and loyalty, Nugent-Hopkins himself has admitted that he wasn't always sure he'd remain with the Oilers for his entire career. Drafted into a team that struggled for several years, it would have been understandable for Nugent-Hopkins to seek opportunities elsewhere. However, he remained dedicated to Edmonton, becoming a symbol of stability during a period of change.

Over his 15 seasons with the Oilers, Nugent-Hopkins has accumulated 283 goals and 505 assists for a total of 788 points in 1,000 games. He reached the 100-point plateau for the first time in the 2022–23 season. He has helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup playoffs seven times. The Oilers reached back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025.

Throughout his career, Nugent-Hopkins has earned over $94 million in NHL salary. In June 2021, he signed an eight-year, $41 million contract extension with the Oilers, demonstrating his commitment to the team.

Nugent-Hopkins's 1,000th game was marked by a 6-0 win against the St. Louis Blues, where he also scored the opening goal. He became only the 10th player in league history to score in both their debut and 1,000th game. At 32 years old, he continues to be a valuable asset to the Oilers, playing on the top line with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman.