Humans are subject to recency memory and Nuge play is subject to comprehending this fact. He's a player that is speciously careful to play much better at the end. But had about as empty a season as its possible for an alleged star player to have. Nuge was a ghost in the first couple games, had a good shift here and there. But he made a concerted effort to be better at times in games 3,4, but still only picking his spots. The thing is his star contemporaries bring a level and standard of play virtually every game. Nuge is a great talent, that seldom uses it. The brilliant goal he scored is still part of his potential, but how often do we see him unwrap something like that. It was the best goal he scored all year. Predictably at the end. nuge would hope he's remembered for that rather than his non stellar play most of the season.
Nuge instincts are about avoiding reprisal. He's the player that will be involved in a scoring play late in a 5-1 loss. Putting in a token appearance. Or show up towards the end of a series that had already gone the other way. Or show up into a season last season on NYE after doing little before it. My harsher take is he pretends at caring, at being loyal, about being a "solid defensive player". As others have noted I can't imagine the double take for new players coming in here and seeing Nuge have a letter. Its like immediate permission to do less here.
Interesting take on the player's character. I think there are reasonable counter points as well.
For recency, I think it's fair to say that a Game 1 DRY line had a solid game by advance statistics but didn't get it done. The coach opted to switch strategy to stack McDavid, Draisaitl with Puljujarvi to win and it didn't work out. Where you see a ghost in the series, I saw a coach trust this player to hold up a deeper team to at least evens while looking to his stack line to win. The final game Nugent Hopkins started with a ten game NHLer and Kassian (six regular season points between them). Tight game, bench shortened, the coach plays Nugent Hopkins a hair under 40 minutes within 4-5 of the team's two elites and contributes 2 points.
I believe the expression 'the players know.' If Nugent Hopkins was a low character, selfish or disinterested player, it is likely he would have been found out and traded during his long tenure here. The team's certainly moved out top players. But every coach and management group has consistently trusted the player for 20 minutes, all situational play. They speak positively about the player's character instead of dealing what would be a reasonable trade chip to change a perennial losing franchise. He took top line assignments for years on embarrassing bad teams against big, strong and elite Pacific Coast teams. His job was to saw off or better top lines with players like Getlaf, Kopitar, Thorton, Sedin. One year with a centre back up group of an overmatched 18 year old Draisaitl, two AHLers, and Boyd Gordon. Never shirk from any of these responsibilities. Adapted his game when the Oiler kiddy corp was chronically caved in trying to run and gun against better teams. Didn't bitch or ask for a trade when help wasn't arriving and bumbling management continued to f*** up bad teams. Unlike many top players might, he did not sulk or pout when this team assbackwards itself into a winning a generational player and having a second high pick emerge into a top five league talent. Team first, contribute however he's directed to and without complaint. Conversely, Taylor Hall when injuries needed him to be asked to change to play centre, quickly and vocally complained his way back to win after a couple tough outings at this tougher position.
Nugent Hopkins is an imperfect player. He's survived a systemic losing culture and is now a complimentary player on a team that might have a chance to become a great team. He'll never be a physical player and he's never been an emotional player neither which define his character. No signs of unbridled greed or selfishness. This is a cross roads year where Holland has to make a massive improvement to this organization. It's a tough call on a core player who likely gets more money elsewhere. Not our decisions as fans to make. If he goes, I trust Holland's got the plan to replace him. But I don't see this person bereft of character. And I think 'the players know'.
