Oilers activate Nugent-Hopkins from IR

The Edmonton Oilers have activated center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins from injured reserve Friday, the club announced.

The 22-year-old hasn't played since sustaining a hand injury on Jan. 18. He has eight goals and 22 assists in 46 games - which are slightly disappointing numbers after back-to-back 56-point seasons and a career-high 24 goals last season.

Nugent-Hopkins was left off Team North America's initial 16-man roster for the coming World Cup of Hockey, but is a strong candidate to be added before the June 1 deadline.

Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli is the man in charge of Team North America, and Nugent-Hopkins' omission led to obvious speculation about the center's place on the Oilers, and how the decision would effect their relationship.

"These are hard decisions," Chairelli said. "At the end of the day, I'm a real big fan of Ryan's. He's got a real good two-way component to his game, he plays against the top centers and he has for a long time for a player of such a young age."

The Oilers are in action Saturday, home to the Arizona Coyotes, and Nugent-Hopkins - signed through 2019-20 at $6 million per season - should be on the ice.