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Player Discussion Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: The Silent Beast

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I like that Nuge has addressed weaknesses, and trained hard. Ive have one knock on him - I wish he could mentor youg guys into great 2 way play in this league. I just wish he could boost Holloway. I want to see a Kane Nuge Holloway line. Im sure both Kane and Nuge would be good role models for making a NHL career.
 
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SwedishFire said:
I like that Nuge has addressed weaknesses, and trained hard. Ive have one knock on him - I wish he could mentor youg guys into great 2 way play in this league. I just wish he could boost Holloway. I want to see a Kane Nuge Holloway line. Im sure both Kane and Nuge would be good role models for making a NHL career.
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To be fair, there's no way you know what kind of mentoring he's doing. I suspect he is, because it means a better team.
 
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nabob said:
My son is big enough now that he stole my royal blue Nuge jersey that had been in my closet for a few years. He wears it to school in Calgary every week now and bugs all his friends about how Nuge is twice the player Huberdeau is this year.


That’s my boy!!!
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I bet the jersey is getting more love now than it has for years. Nuge has really reawakened every part of his game. This is the player I expected or wanted him to be. That said the goal post thing was funny. The incredible thing is Nuge kind of muffed 5 scoring chances last night but he's so great at finding the right spots he gets these opportunities and so many. I tend to think he gets as many scoring chances as anybody just from knowing where to be. Nuge should make a great coach some day if he wants it.
 
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Fourier said:
PP performance is often downplayed. But it matters and Nuge is a great pp performer. Even though he is generally the third wheel the Oilers pp is noticeably weaker when he has been out. Today without Leon, Nuge really stepped up.
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I don't think he is the 3rd wheel. Quite often when they get established in zone, it's Nuge who gets the puck, while McDrai try and get lost in the shuffle.

It's his job to read the PK, and try and move guys out of position in order free up space for McDavid and Drai to attack once the puck gets to them (after 1 or 2 quick passes). Very much the QB trying to read coverage and hit his receivers in space.


Imo that's the secret formula to the Oilers PP: once they're established in the zone (becasue McDavid is zone entry god), McDrai don't really get the puck until breakdowns are already occuring. They still draw a s**t ton of attention, and that's what gives Nuge (plus Hyman and Barrie) all the open ice to pick the PK apart and create those breakdowns.


As weird as it sounds, Drai is generally the 3rd wheel on the PP, and the easiest member of the big 3 to replace. Mainly because he handles the puck the least, plus McDavid can shift to the RW halfwall while Kane or Yams can take over as bumper.
 
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Dazed and Confused said:
I don't think he is the 3rd wheel. Quite often when they get established in zone, it's Nuge who gets the puck, while McDrai try and get lost in the shuffle.

It's his job to read the PK, and try and move guys out of position in order free up space for McDavid and Drai to attack once the puck gets to them (after 1 or 2 quick passes). Very much the QB trying to read coverage and hit his receivers in space.


Imo that's the secret formula to the Oilers PP: once they're established in the zone (becasue McDavid is zone entry god), McDrai don't really get the puck until breakdowns are already occuring. They still draw a s**t ton of attention, and that's what gives Nuge (plus Hyman and Barrie) all the open ice to pick the PK apart and create those breakdowns.


As weird as it sounds, Drai is generally the 3rd wheel on the PP, and the easiest member of the big 3 to replace. Mainly because he handles the puck the least, plus McDavid can shift to the RW halfwall while Kane or Yams can take over as bumper.
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I appreciate everything you say. The third wheel comment was not to minimize his contribution. But I don't think any of the three would be easy to replace, Draisiatl's shot is crucial.
 
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Fourier said:
I appreciate everything you say. The third wheel comment was not to minimize his contribution. But I don't think any of the three would be easy to replace, Draisiatl's hsot is crucial.
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Was just about to type the same thing. Draisaitl is often the last player to touch the puck on an Oilers PP - that right-side one timer is absolutely lethal. He's a bit like an opposite-side Stamkos in that regard. He might not get as much time or touches with the puck as some of the other guys, but when he does, look out!
 
Dazed and Confused said:
I don't think he is the 3rd wheel. Quite often when they get established in zone, it's Nuge who gets the puck, while McDrai try and get lost in the shuffle.

It's his job to read the PK, and try and move guys out of position in order free up space for McDavid and Drai to attack once the puck gets to them (after 1 or 2 quick passes). Very much the QB trying to read coverage and hit his receivers in space.


Imo that's the secret formula to the Oilers PP: once they're established in the zone (becasue McDavid is zone entry god), McDrai don't really get the puck until breakdowns are already occuring. They still draw a s**t ton of attention, and that's what gives Nuge (plus Hyman and Barrie) all the open ice to pick the PK apart and create those breakdowns.


As weird as it sounds, Drai is generally the 3rd wheel on the PP, and the easiest member of the big 3 to replace. Mainly because he handles the puck the least, plus McDavid can shift to the RW halfwall while Kane or Yams can take over as bumper.
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I agree with nearly everything except I don’t think you could easily replace any of the 3 centers of the PP. They all have a completely different skill set and they compliment each other perfectly. Leon might have the best one timer from down low in the league. He can go shelf from damn near on the goal line, or anywhere else you might need, and he gets it away quickly and consistently. He’s maybe easier to replace in terms of the cycle, but even then, his puck protection is at a level that we probably haven’t seen from anyone since a younger Thornton
 
nabob said:
My son is big enough now that he stole my royal blue Nuge jersey that had been in my closet for a few years. He wears it to school in Calgary every week now and bugs all his friends about how Nuge is twice the player Huberdeau is this year.


That’s my boy!!!
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Haha I'm so worried about my kids being bullied, I'm raising them to be Habs fans.
 
050BP3p.png
 
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nabob said:
My son is big enough now that he stole my royal blue Nuge jersey that had been in my closet for a few years. He wears it to school in Calgary every week now and bugs all his friends about how Nuge is twice the player Huberdeau is this year.


That’s my boy!!!
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If they ever spout off.

#OILIN5.
 
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