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Oilers activate Nugent-Hopkins from injured reserve

Edmonton Oilers v New York Rangers

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 15: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 15, 2015 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Oilers 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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The Edmonton Oilers have activated Ryan Nugent-Hopkins from injured reserve, which should finally give head coach Todd McLellan his full compliment of top forwards heading into the weekend.

The Oilers play the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday to begin a five-game home stand.

From the Edmonton Journal:

If Nugent Hopkins is back for Game 71 Saturday, it will mark the first time this season that he, Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Connor McDavid have all been on the same ice.

It’s like a game of tag. Eberle gets injured in training camp and returns Nov. 6, one game after McDavid breaks his collar bone. McDavid comes back Feb. 2, four games after Nugent-Hopkins breaks his finger.

“The biggest thing is we haven’t been able to put our team together on the ice to really know what we have or don’t have and give it time to gel or grow,” said McLellan. “So we’re going to have to make some decisions in the summer without having the complete package together.”

The 22-year-old Nugent-Hopkins hasn’t played since Jan. 18 after suffering a broken hand while blocking a shot.

In 46 games this season, Nugent-Hopkins has eight goals and 30 points. The Oilers are back in a familiar spot near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. They currently sit two points up on Winnipeg for last in the West.

Related: McLellan laments Nugent-Hopkins loss: ‘For me, he’s like Joe Pavelski’