Nugent-Hopkins returned to practice on Tuesday after missing Saturday’s game and Monday’s practice. RNH’s return to the ice is a good sign that he is feeling well enough to return to the lineup on Wednesday.

Nugent-Hopkins missed Saturday’s game and now Monday’s practice, which clouds his status for Wednesday’s game vs. the Blackhawks. Monitor RNH’s status as the week progresses.

Pickard has yet to lose in regulation in the AHL this season, going 6-0-3 with a 2.27 GAA and .935 SV% in nine games. Picard, who performed very well with Colorado last season, will serve as Reto Berra’s backup on Thursday in Boston.

As many feared, McDavid did in fact suffer a broken collarbone on Tuesday night and will miss multiple months. McDavid will undergo surgery on Wednesday, but it sounds like he will be back in the lineup before the end of the 2015-16 season. The best case scenario appears to be that McDavid will miss 8-12 weeks, which could have him back in the lineup in mid-to-late January, but it could be much longer.

McDavid crashed hard into the end boards late in the second period and got up clutching his shoulder. It was a heavy collision and the Oilers should provide the media with an update following the contest or on Wednesday.

Lazar has missed the last three games with a concussion, but he is ready to play on Tuesday vs. the Canadiens. With Lazar out, look for Matt Puempel to come out of the lineup. Lazar has one goal and one assist in eight games.

Draisaitl, 20, has been recalled because the Oilers are in need of a top-6 forward. Draisaitl has scored one goal with one assist in six games with Bakersfield and many reports suggest that Draisaitl has been the Condors’ best forward this season. He is expected to make his season debut tonight on a line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall.

Nurse has registered one assist in six games with Bakersfield this season and has been recalled after the Oilers placed Griffin Reinhart (undisclosed) on IR. Nurse could make his season debut on Tuesday vs. the Wild.

Lazar was injured on Saturday and head coach Dave Cameron said that his injury is “more long term than short term.” Lazar has one a nice start to the season, but it looks like he will miss at least a couple of games with the upper-body injury.

Ekholm has one goal and two assists in eight games this season. He is not usually known for producing offensively, having recorded just 30 points (9G / 21A) in 153 career games.

Lazar left the game after a hit by Coyotes’ defenseman Zbynek Michalek and he did not come back from the dressing room. Lazar had been bumped up to the top line for Saturday’s game but he only played 4:54 TOI before retiring to the dressing room.

Nurse, 20, had a nice preseason and some thought that he would at least get another preseason game, but he has been sent to the minors where he will wait for his next shot. The AHL has developed Anton Lander and Oscar Klefbom into great players, so the Oilers appear to be content to be patient with the former seventh overall pick. There’s a very strong chance Nurse gets recalled at some point during the season.

McDavid becomes the Oilers fourth 1st overall pick in the last six years. The 18-year-old phenom has dominated the OHL for the last two seasons and was the consensus number-1 overall pick coming into the draft. He finished the 2014-15 season with 44 goals and 76 assists (120 points) in 47 games with Erie. He did not slow down in the playoffs either, tallying 49 points (21G / 28A) in 20 contests. He wraps up his junior career with 97 goals and 188 assists (285 points) in 166 career regular season games.