Player Discussion Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: The Silent Beast

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

"Silent beast"? Well, he's certainly been silent alright.

He actually may be a decent 3rd line C if they give him proper line mates. (not Jeff Skinner)

 

[oobga]

Very well oiled 1 gear bicycle.

With one of these on the handlebars to make it beastly

 

[OilerTyler]

How bad has Nuge been? On pace for 52 points while riding shotgun with Mcdavid. He's dragging the PP down, not noticeable 5 v 5 and will probably disappear in the playoffs.

He needs to be moved down to the 3rd line.

Oddly enough, the only seasons in which Nuge has disappeared in the playoffs were his first playoffs (2017) and his 100 point season. He's been pretty good in the playoffs every other year.

The Nuge-McDavid-Hyman line has absolutely not been working this season and I think Knob held onto it a little too long. I'd be curious to see how Nuge would do playing next to Draisaitl for a bit. They've had success in the past but have only played 37 minutes together at 5 on 5 this year.

 

[oobga]

Oddly enough, the only seasons in which Nuge has disappeared in the playoffs were his first playoffs (2017) and his 100 point season. He's been pretty good in the playoffs every other year.

The Nuge-McDavid-Hyman line has absolutely not been working this season and I think Knob held onto it a little too long. I'd be curious to see how Nuge would do playing next to Draisaitl for a bit. They've had success in the past but have only played 37 minutes together at 5 on 5 this year.

Think Nuge had 3 even strength points (3 assists) combined in rounds 3 and 4 last playoffs, and was one of the only fully healthy forwards? That seems like disappearing. Hyman looked like a husk, Drai busted, McDavid just going solo every game in the finals being swarmed, because his wingers were completely useless and could be ignored by Florida defenders. That is when we needed the Nuge who coasted the first 3 rounds with near zero damage to show himself, but, never happened.

 

[OilerTyler]

Think Nuge had 3 even strength points (3 assists) combined in rounds 3 and 4 last playoffs, and was one of the only fully healthy forwards? That seems like disappearing. Hyman looked like a husk, Drai busted, McDavid just going solo every game in the finals being swarmed, because his wingers were completely useless and could be ignored by Florida defenders. That is when we needed the Nuge who coasted the first 3 rounds with near zero damage to show himself, but, never happened.

Yeah, he definitely slowed down as the playoffs went on. A lot of players on the team did. I don't think it's fair to say he coasted the first three rounds when he had 20 points in 18 games though. A lot of teams around the league would kill for production like that from their stars. And power play points count too. We've seen how this PP operates without Nuge and it's not pretty.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Keep him at center, that's where he does his best work and it helps to get some ES scoring in the bottom 6.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Think Nuge had 3 even strength points (3 assists) combined in rounds 3 and 4 last playoffs, and was one of the only fully healthy forwards? That seems like disappearing. Hyman looked like a husk, Drai busted, McDavid just going solo every game in the finals being swarmed, because his wingers were completely useless and could be ignored by Florida defenders. That is when we needed the Nuge who coasted the first 3 rounds with near zero damage to show himself, but, never happened.

It's crazy how this is such a problem. It's why I prefer him and Drai play together currently and why we need a good top 6 player so badly.

 

[oobga]

It's crazy how this is such a problem. It's why I prefer him and Drai play together currently and why we need a good top 6 player so badly.

One more winger that can actually hold onto a puck and make a heads up play 5v5 would probably help a lot. All our "top" wingers are quick 1 and done primarily shooting players 5v5, including Nuge. Nuge can only hold onto pucks and make plays when he has the extra space the PP gives him, although, this season he can barely even do that.

 

[K1984]

I've always said the play of RNH is a litmus test for the play of the overall team.

When he's plodding around, getting torched in battles, and turning pucks over incessantly, so is the rest of the group. When he's actually playing assertive hockey, the Oilers do too.

He's been trash for most of this season.

 

[bucks_oil]

Yeah, he definitely slowed down as the playoffs went on. A lot of players on the team did. I don't think it's fair to say he coasted the first three rounds when he had 20 points in 18 games though. A lot of teams around the league would kill for production like that from their stars. And power play points count too. We've seen how this PP operates without Nuge and it's not pretty.

I read that with too... "coasted for three rounds"?

So when it comes to Nuge, not only do power play points not count, but you need to be injured to prove you weren't coasting?

Just while we are reality checking... Nuge scored 10 points (including 6 "real points" at EV) vs Vancouver, seems like more than just 'coasting' in the closest series (other than FLA) that we had.