Player Discussion Ryan Nugent-Hopkins '18-19 season

[Zaddy]

He's been real good this year. Deserves a lot of love. Really impressed by his play lately especially and what he's been able to accomplish with less than ideal wingers on his line. Looking like a potential career year for Nuge!

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[MessierII]

Honestly since that down year in 2016-17 he’s turned it around. Great hockey out of him these days.

 

[McAsuno]

Piss him more, Ference.
A good Nuge is an angry Nuge.

 

[780il]

THE NUGE IS HUGE

 

[Spawn]

He's having an incredible year offensively. About time

 

[MoontoScott]

He always had talent but by his 3rd season in the league he was dubbed a "3rd line checking center" for reasons that I don't quite understand and it really undercut his on-ice performance.

He is finally coming into his own with a lot of confidence on the ice. Looked like Mac-D tonight.

 

[CycloneSweep]

He reminds me a lot of Kadri. Always talented just took a bit. Exact we age that Kadri brokeout at too

 

[Cloned]

He reminds me a lot of Kadri. Always talented just took a bit. Exact we age that Kadri brokeout at too

He’s nowhere as dirty as Kadri.

 

[CycloneSweep]

He’s nowhere as dirty as Kadri.

That part yeah, I just meant his development path.

 

[BlueCheeseWithWings]

What did Ference say about RNH?

 

[Chef de Cuisine]

i love nuge

 

[Blue Line Turnover]

What did Ference say about The Nuge? I just saw the bullet point summary of Ference's rant and didn't see anything alluding to Nuge

 

[5 14 6 1]

This thread is something else.

Nuge is a very very good hockey player.

 

[GodPucker]

Nuge is into Horses. Kinda has a long face as well. Horses also have a big....strong kick to your face if you stand behind them..

Never stand behind a horse.

 

[KarmaPolice]

What did Ference say about The Nuge? I just saw the bullet point summary of Ference's rant and didn't see anything alluding to Nuge

I don't recall him saying anything about Ryan. He alluded to a couple 'party guys' but he was fairly obviously referring to Hall, Eberle (both allegedly, of course) and maybe one other main guy. RNH doesn't fit the bill to me unless he's ungodly good at keeping it on the down-low, so really don't think he was talking about him at all with regards to that or anything else. And I don't recall him mentioning him once by name, unless I somehow missed it.

 

[bzur]

Dunkaroos for the boy before bedtime tonight! He was flying and handling the puck in ways i haven't seen him do much since his rookie season.

 

[Belieber]

It’s not easy to play your strong side on the PP like he does, so much easier on the off wing. Am I wrong in thinking he’s one of the best in the league as a strong side half boards PP option? Produces well without having any one time shots.

 

[KCC]

The growth in his game and killing PK's is awesome to see. Plus, he can run his own line.

 

[Burnt Biscuits]

My hope is this season once and for all puts to rest the notion that he peaked in his rookie season.

I'm also quite impressed with how he's been able to stay productive with a mish-mash of the best of the rest wingers and how much of a pain in the ass he has been on the forecheck on the PK this season is kind of astounding.

 

[McShogun99]

I hope we extend him next season. He’s becoming Bergeron lite.

 

[Bangers]

I hope we extend him next season. He’s becoming Bergeron lite.

After his first couple years, I thought Nuge's upside was a Bergeron-type 2 way C. Glad he's starting to resemble one.

On another note, it seems like lanky high-1st round Cs (who aren't generational talents) always take a bit longer to develop.

His development path seems quite similar to Turris and Brassard.

 

[NeverForget06]

On pace for 76 points right now. That is 20 more than his current career high. Even if he doesn't sustain that pace, a 60+ point season, with what he bring in our zone, would be pretty incredible.

What do you guys think about his next contract? Would the same AAV be acceptable?

 

[Kolja]

What do you guys think about his next contract? Would the same AAV be acceptable?

No doubt! My favorite player. Hope he becomes the first career Oiler.

 

[fuswald]

On pace for 76 points right now. That is 20 more than his current career high. Even if he doesn't sustain that pace, a 60+ point season, with what he bring in our zone, would be pretty incredible.

What do you guys think about his next contract? Would the same AAV be acceptable?

He will ask $7.5-8

 

[Fourier]

He will ask $7.5-8

My guess would be that if he continues to play this way in this role he will get a modest raise to $7-7.5M. He seems the type to recognize that for parts of the current deal he was not earning the full amount. The earlier the deal gets made the better, though being a UFA the year that the expansion draft is happening does make this less likely.