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The case for the Oilers to retire Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ number
Edmonton Oilers Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 1000th game
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jan 21, 2026, 14:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 21, 2026, 14:17 EST
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On Sunday, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins played his 1,000th game with the Edmonton Oilers.
As you know, the Oilers have a long and storied history, but the longest-tenured Oiler became the first player in team history to play 1,000 games exclusively with the Oilers, and just the second player to play his 1,000th game with the team. Only one player, Kevin Lowe, has played more games as an Oiler (1,037). It’s only a matter of time before Nugent-Hopkins surpasses Lowe’s record, likely doing so at some point next season.
The Oilers have an unwritten rule: Only players who enter the Hall of Fame can have their jersey number retired, Lowe’s #4 being the most recent number to be hung in the rafters of Rogers Place. Notable players who aren’t in the Hall of Fame, such as Ryan Smyth, Doug Weight, Charlie Huddy, and others.
Nugent-Hopkins, 32, has 283 goals and 788 points in those 1,000 games. He’s a lock to make the Hall of Good, but nowhere near the Hall of Fame. That said, the Oilers should break their own jersey retirement if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins can reach two milestones.

The pathway for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to have his number retired

You’d be hard-pressed to find a retired player who played exclusively for the Oilers throughout their entire career, well, at least in a large sample size. The retired player with the most games exclusively played with the Oilers is Oscar Klefbom, who played just 378 games with the Oilers in an injury-riddled career. Who knows if the defenceman would’ve spent his entire career with the team if not for injuries, as he’s still only 32 years old.
Of course, there are other Oilers on the team who’ve spent their entire career with the organization and have more games played than Klefbom. Namely, Leon Draisaitl (838), Darnell Nurse (766), and Connor McDavid (762).
A player playing for just one organization doesn’t happen all that often nowadays. Recent retirees who spent their career with the team they made their debut for include Ryan Getzlaf (1,157 games played as an Anaheim Duck), Patrice Bergeron (1,294 games played as a Bruin), and a handful of others. There are also numerous players in the league, such as Sidney Crosby, Mikael Backlund, and Jamie Benn, who’ve played 1,000 games with the team with which they made their NHL debut.
Nugent-Hopkins has missed just 108 of the eligible games he could’ve played since entering the league, averaging about 74 games a season over a 82-game season. If he’s to play to his age-40 season, eight more seasons in the league, Nugent-Hopkins will have played around 1,592 games if he’s to keep up the same pace.
It’s a big if due to various factors such as injuries, age, and remaining on the team, but say Nugent-Hopkins reaches that mark. There are only a handful of players to have even played 1,500 NHL games, much less with the same team. Nicklas Lidström, Alex Delvecchio, Alexander Ovechkin, and Steve Yzerman are the only players to have achieved this feat, with Anže Kopitar and Sidney Crosby even close to the realm of 1,500 with the team they made their debut with.
Say Nugent-Hopkins plays 1,500 games, all with the Oilers, that probably opens up a legitimate conversation of having #93 retired in Rogers Place’s rafters.
The other barometer that’d help Nugent-Hopkins is reaching 1,000 points. Of the 103 players to reach the 1,000 point milestone, only 18 retired players aren’t in the Hall of Fame, while 13 are active in the NHL, two are active overseas (including Jaromír Jágr, yes, the 53-year-old is still playing), and three players are eligible in the next two years.
As noted earlier in the article, Nugent-Hopkins almost has no chance of making the Hall of Fame, but 1,000 points is obtainable. Through his 1,000 games, Nugent-Hopkins has 788 points, a .788 point-per-game pace. If we’re being conservative with his estimated games played, let’s say just 1,300, Nugent-Hopkins will reach 1,000 points if he is to stay on the same pace.
Again, age is an unknown factor, as well as whether he’ll remain with the organization and injuries. That said, if Nugent-Hopkins spends his entire career with the Oilers and plays upwards of 1,400-1,500 games with the team while accumulating over 1,000 points, the Oilers should bend the rules and hang his number in the rafters.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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