Oilers’ Nugent-Hopkins living up to early-season promise
EDMONTON — The last time Todd Nelson had a front-row seat to observe the craftsmanship of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Edmonton Oilers centre was leaner than he is now, not as quick and certainly not as sure about the strength of his shoulder.
The playing field was different, too. Nugent-Hopkins was in the American Hockey League, passing time during the NHL lockout with Nelson’s Oklahoma City Barons. Now Nelson is behind the NHL bench, on an interim basis during another of the Oilers’ renovation projects, and Nugent-Hopkins is set to start another game on the top line where he has been all season.
In spite of all that has gone wrong with the Oilers this season, Nugent-Hopkins is not one of them.
“He’s gotten a lot stronger and I think that element of quickness has gotten better. When he explodes with the puck out of pressure, you can really see how fast he can move,” Nelson said after the Oilers had been put through their practice paces in preparation for Friday’s home game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Nugent-Hopkins, recently reunited with wingers Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle, leads the team with 11 goals and like his linemates, has a team-high 25 points. The numbers are not staggering in comparison to the league’s top point getters, but the Oilers have been an offensively challenged lot. Nor can Nugent-Hopkins’ impact be measured solely by his point totals.
He’s averaging 21:20 a game in ice time, which is more than every forward in the league except for the Winnipeg Jets’ Dustin Byfuglien — and Byfuglien was moved back to the blue line in December. His work in the faceoff circle has improved and so, too, has his two-way game.
Back in the fall, Nugent-Hopkins said he had more to contribute and he’s certainly followed through on his pronouncement.