Mike Babcock confirmed Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returns Thursday against Carolina, and the Oilers are about to get deeper down the middle.
Babcock said the return will help Edmonton's center depth and let him spread out the minutes more.
Nugent-Hopkins suffered a lower-body injury at the very end of a practice just before the season opener against Vancouver.
He's missed the first nine games on injured reserve.
He'll center the second line between Zach Hyman and Kasperi Kapanen.
It's about time. Leaning this hard on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in October was never sustainable, no matter how good the results looked.
Getting a second-line center back is like adding a second burner to a stove that's been cooking Thanksgiving dinner on one.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl finally get some relief
The results have looked great. McDavid has 26 points and a +17 rating through nine games.
Draisaitl has 16 points of his own.
Edmonton is 7-1-1 after Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over Minnesota.
Easing their workload now could pay off in April, when fresh legs matter most.
The 33-year-old also brings a veteran's touch to a forward group still missing Jason Dickinson, who's out until at least Oct. 28.
He's spent his entire NHL career in Edmonton, and few players know this room better.
Kapanen could use the help. He's gone minus-4 with four points.
Hyman has played only three games, so this line will need a little time to find its rhythm.
Carolina won't make it easy. The Hurricanes are 8-2-1 and just beat Vancouver 6-3 on Tuesday.
So how much does one returning center change? Toronto and Detroit follow on the homestand, and if the second line clicks, the rest of the West has a bigger problem than it did last week.
Will Ryan Nugent-Hopkins make the Oilers the best team in the West?
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