Ryan Nugent-Hopkins became the Edmonton Oilers’ all-time leader in games played on Tuesday, skating in his 1,038th game for the club against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. The appearance moved him past Kevin Lowe, whose record of 1,037 games had stood since 1998.
How to watch: Edmonton Oilers at New Jersey Devils, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 7:30 p.m. ET at Prudential Center
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The Morning The Record Became Real
The milestone was waiting for Nugent-Hopkins before he ever reached the rink in Newark. At the morning skate, his teammates arrived wearing custom T-shirts built for the day, each one showing him with a mullet, a camo shirt and a tattoo, under the words “1038 games Most Games Played as an Edmonton Oiler.” The Oilers then played him a tribute video carrying messages from teammates and from his wife, Breanne.
“I’m very lucky and fortunate to have been able to hit this milestone with this team,” Nugent-Hopkins said Tuesday. “It really is a testament to a lot of these guys in this room, and not just the players but the staff, the trainers that have been here for my entire career.” He added: “I feel the love. Having a video that they shared with me was definitely special.”
Lowe, the man whose record fell, marked the moment as well, with Sportsnet carrying his congratulations to the new record holder on Tuesday night. Lowe had already set the tone for the handover in comments to the Edmonton Journal. “He’s been a solid player and a fan favourite since he arrived,” Lowe said. “Playing that many games for one organization says tons about his talent, consistency and, of course, his character. He’s been through the highs and lows as an Oiler but through it all, he’s represented the Oilers and the city of Edmonton with class.”
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ Oilers Record, Built Over 16 Seasons
Every one of the 1,038 games has come in the same sweater. Edmonton took the Burnaby, British Columbia native first overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, and he scored in his first NHL game on October 9, 2011, beating the Pittsburgh Penguins’ goaltending with 4:55 left in regulation in a 2-1 shootout win at Rexall Place. He finished second in Calder Trophy voting that season with 52 points in 62 games, then stayed through everything that followed.
That staying is the substance of the record. Nugent-Hopkins played 395 regular-season games before his first playoff appearance in 2017, through the leanest years in franchise history, and was still a core piece when the Oilers reached back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025. His peak season came in 2022-23, when he posted 37 goals and 104 points. On January 16, 2026, he became the first Oiler ever to play 1,000 games entirely with the club, and he scored the opening goal that night in a 5-0 win over St. Louis.
The games record sits on top of a full career line: 294 goals, 517 assists and 811 points entering Tuesday, ranking eighth in franchise goals, sixth in assists and seventh in points, plus 102 playoff games. He and Lowe are the only two players to reach 1,000 games as Oilers, with Ryan Smyth third on the list. On Tuesday night he marked the occasion on the scoresheet too, assisting on Evan Bouchard’s opening goal in the first period.
What The Room Says About No. 93
The clearest explanation of the record came from the two superstars who have shared the room with him longest. “You see around the league guys jumping ship and changing organizations a lot, and he’s stuck with this organization through some of the darkest times,” Connor McDavid said. “Not a lot of guys get to see a rebuild all the way through and see the other side of it. He’s done that, and it’s a big credit to him for his commitment to the city, to the organization and to the fanbase.”
Leon Draisaitl put the company in perspective. “This organization has had a lot of players, a lot of superstars, a lot of legends that played here forever, and for Nuge to be at the top of that list, it says a lot,” Draisaitl said. “He’s always been that heartbeat of the city.” Head coach Mike Babcock called him “steady ever since he got here, probably underappreciated,” and former teammate Connor Brown, now with New Jersey, called him a player who “does everything right” and “puts the team first.”
A Record With Room To Grow
Unlike most franchise records, this one is still moving. Nugent-Hopkins is in the sixth season of an eight-year contract carrying a $5.125 million cap hit, which runs through 2028-29, so the total should keep climbing for years. The next active Oiler on the list, Draisaitl, sits at 870 games, a full career’s worth of appearances behind him. Edmonton has started this season 11-2-2, and the home crowd gets its own turn to mark the record when the Oilers return to Rogers Place on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks.
“This was the dream when I got drafted, and I haven’t wavered throughout my whole career that I want to be an Edmonton Oiler,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “Start my career here, finish my career here. It means a ton to me.” Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri and Lowe himself all wore the jersey with more brilliance. As of Tuesday night in Newark, none of them wore it more often.
