Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (hand) returned to practice Tuesday, Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reports.

Nugent-Hopkins (hand) returned to practice Tuesday, Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reports.

Analysis:

While it's certainly an encouraging sign, he still won't be able to play in games for a couple more weeks. Nuge has been out of the lineup since blocking a shot Jan. 18 versus Florida; unfortunately for Edmonton and fantasy owners, he's going to return toward the latter end of his original 6-to-8-week recovery timeline.