Alex Galchenyuk Vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League

Alex Galchenyuk Vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

rockjngo

Registered User
Oct 31, 2011
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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
6'1" 185lbs
1st overall
24 points (base on last year)

OR

Alex Galchenyuk
6'1" 196lbs
3rd overall
27 points

RNH's first season he had 52 points. But that's playing with the likes of Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle. While Galchenyuk played mostly with fellow rookie Gallagher and Prust. Nugent-Hopkins has the edge on playmaking, but last season he scored only 4 goals in 40 games. Galchenyuk is a better scorer than Nugent-Hopkins but less of a passer than Nugent-Hopkins.

Who would you rather have?

Answer: Its a hard choice. I probably give Galchenyuk, he's got that edge to build his body and desire to win. He's in the gym everyday whereas Nugent-Hopkins looks really thin. Plus I need players that score and not look for pass first.
 
I might not no the finer points of the game and 'maybe' RNH is better at the little things or something but in my eyes, Galchenyuk has a way higher ceiling. He's just way more skilled IMO.
 
Galchenyuk has fire in his eyes, he is going to be elite...........Still cant believe we got the first overall pick in 2012!!!!!!
 
I might not no the finer points of the game and 'maybe' RNH is better at the little things or something but in my eyes, Galchenyuk has a way higher ceiling. He's just way more skilled IMO.

I like Galchenyuk a lot but he is definitely not "way more skilled " than RNH.

IMO I would give the edge to RNH I the skills department but I would prefer Galchenyuk as a building block due to RNH's recurring shoulder woes and Galchenyuk's
intensity and compete level.
 
Some would argue Galchenyuk could easily be the #1 overall pick had he played more than 3 games his draft year. Chucky has size, hands, vision, he might lack explosiveness in his skating. I highly doubt Columbus will take Ryan Murray if we redo the draft :)
 
Skill-wise, RNH takes the cake. We may be blessed for having Galchenyuk, but I would be lying if I said he had more or even equal talent to RNH.

The only thing I feel Galchenyuk really has over Hopkins is intensity. That's not to say Hopkins isn't a hard worker, he absolutely is, but there's a difference between being a hard worker and having fire. To use the Canucks as an example, Henrik Sedin is a hard worker, but Kesler is the one with fire. For that reason alone, I wouldn't be surprised if Alex ends up being the guy I would rather have come playoff time.

Hopkins has the idealized skill set of a playmaker, combining vision, hands, terrific agility and a sweet wrister that, frankly, is not used as often as it should. Galchenyuk's shot is a bit better, but I also like Gally's willigness to use it and use it effectively at this stage. He also has several of the same attributes as Hopkins, but I find Hopkins has him beat in skating, passing and control.

That being said, when it comes down to who would be better for the Habs, I would take Galchenyuk because he is a bit less predictable to defend on a team that does not include a Taylor Hall or Nail Yakupov on the wings, elite level talents that can finish. For Edmonton, Hopkins is the easy choice between the two.
 
RNH is the shiftiest skater and he is a great playmaker but he is very weak and has a below average shot.

He is only weak because he is still so young......that will change. I find it amusing how people assume players who don't shoot as much as we would like them to must have weak shots. Hopkins has a very good wrist shot which anyone who has watched him could certainly attest to.
 
Galchenyuk has fire in his eyes, he is going to be elite...........Still cant believe we got the first overall pick in 2012!!!!!!

For what our teem needed he was perfect, but Nail's debut is nothing to sneeze at. Kid has a nose for the net. Only time will tell, but I suspect they will have equally admirable careers so it will be a close race late into their careers.
 
A big talented center is harder to find than scoring wingers or defensive defenseman.
 
That's a tough one. RNH definitely is the more skilled player but Gal maybe brings more toughness. Both good!
 
RNH looked amazing in his first year. Last year he wasn't nearly as bad as his stats indicated. That shoulder is scary though... just seems to be a problem that won't go away.

RNH would get my vote.
 
I don't think the homers realize just how good RNH is.
 
Rnh. The kid was near a ppg for most of his first season and he plays with an edge. Love it, stop being homers, you guys sound like sens fans .
 
both have a similar ceiling, both will have great careers as first line centermen for their respective teams. RNH might be a little slicker, his skating and agility is off the charts but I find Galchenyuk to be equal to him in every other aspect and has a bit more physicality that RNH lacks. RNH is a pure passer whereas Galchenyuk has the whole package: grit, slick hands, a sniper and can be a very very decent playmaker. Galchenyuk takes it for me, I ****ing love the kid, but it's mighty close.
 
both have a similar ceiling, both will have great careers as first line centermen for their respective teams. RNH might be a little slicker, his skating and agility is off the charts but I find Galchenyuk to be equal to him in every other aspect and has a bit more physicality that RNH lacks. RNH is a pure passer whereas Galchenyuk has the whole package: grit, slick hands, a sniper and can be a very very decent playmaker. Galchenyuk takes it for me, I ****ing love the kid, but it's mighty close.

Rnh is more physically engaged than chuckie.
 
Galchenyuk vs Yakupov would be a better question. I think (at least now anyway) RNH seems to be above both these guys.

Young players though... it's so early. They're all great players/prospects.
 
RNH is going to be on Tavares level soon. Gally is a peg under that but can become that IMO.
 
RNH has been rushed to the NHL too soon, his body wasnt ready to face the NHL physicality.. That being said, if he can fully recover from his enigmatic shoulder issue, he will be one of the most productive centers in the league since he has super elite puck skills and vision and will have the chance to play with highly skilled wingers.. RNH is more about finess than Galchenyuk but Gally has a better arsenal of shots and plays with an edge so its tough to say who will be the most valuable player of the 2 but I think its safe to say RNH will be more offensively productive unless his shoulder never comes back 100%.
 
Rnh is more physically engaged than chuckie.

Dont know about that

OP says RNH is 185 lbs and Galchrnyuk 196 lbs

Galchenyuks 206 lbs now (reported gym rat)

and RNH is BARELY 185 ( i mean to say his 185 lbs is being generous , hockeydb even puts it at 171)

thats the only real difference i can see between the 2, they are both off the charts offensively and skillwise, i couldnt PICK between the 2 who id want in regards to offense alone (galchenyuks laser shot has the edge, dont talk to me about RNH's supposed "better" passing, galchenyuks already the best passer on the habs its insane)

but size and durability go to Galchenyuk, ..nugent hopkins already has a bit of injury trouble so far and doesnt seem to be putting on pounds of muscle to try and avoid it, ..galchenyuk meanwhile played all 48 of his games as a rookie (to RNH's 40) and got absolutely rocked a couple times doing it

and to just flat out compare their 2 seasons last year

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 40 GP 4 G 20 A , 24 PTS 18:51 average time on ice

Alex Galchenyuk 48 GP 9 G 18 A 27 PTS with 12:19 average time on ice

thats quite a season for galchenyuk ALL things considered

not trying to bash on RNH or to be a homer and pick OUR guy over theirs, im trying to be as objective as possible, and i think galchenyuk is just THAT special of a player

christ were lucky
 
I watched a fair amount of both Nuge and Chuckie being a Habs fan living in Edmonton.

They play similar styles of games - they're both natural playmakers. But if I were to compare different aspects of their game...

Skating: I don't think either one is better here. They're both very shifty and pretty sturdy on their skates, but I don't think either of them has significanlty higher end acceleration or top speed than the other. It's a draw.

Passing: They're both incredibly slick passers. Nuge has more patience with the puck though, and it allows him to find more plays to make. Galchenyuk doesn't have quite the level of poise or patience in his game, at least right now.

Shooting: Both have very good shots, but neither of them uses it enough! I can't see a huge difference here. Nuge only had 4 goals last year.

Stick handling: They can both dangle. Again, I don't see a significant winner here. They have both demonstrated exemplary work with their sticks when they have the puck.

Defensive play: Nuge is better here. He has a good stick in the d-zone to knock the puck of players sticks and intercept passes. He also plays better positionally.

In summary, they're very similar players, but Nuge is much better in the defensive zone and he's also more patient with the puck.
 

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