Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

[crackdown44]

They are now and last year

Now and last year where he had stints on McDavid’s wing? Nuge and Drai are both really good players but you guys can’t peg them as 1C’s when one of them is always playing on McDavid’s wing lol

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

Mid tier #2C having a great season

What a shocker.

 

[strictlyrandy]

He's not a 1c . He doesn't face the top competition as a c. He's been a really good second line c his entire career. Not a bad player by any measure, but not a 1 c. Especially if people are calling Duchene a 2 c.

 

[ottomaddox]

"Elite" should never be used this casually. If you are speaking about any 2nd line C, why use "elite" to describe them?

 

[Sam Spade]

He is an ok player, never does anything super impressive, not a 1C. Definitely not what I thought he would be as a first overall.

 

[qwerty]

Coming from a Flames fan, I think Hopkins is actually quite good. Responsible 2 way center who usually makes the right play and can play in all situations. Brings a lot of stability to the Oiler’s line up. But let’s be real here, he’s their 3rd line center because Connor McDavid is unofficially the 1st and 2nd line center because he plays half the game.

 

[izzy]

hes freakishly underrated because of his draft position

he can play any role on any line

hes not physical but hes everything else.

 

[Not My Tempo]

Watching him yesterday, I had no idea he was as fast of a skater as he is.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Drai is an elite #1C that has to play the #2C role, when he actually does, because...well.....McDavid

Nuge is an average/decent #1C that doesn't play #2C because he's not as good as Drai, and unless both Drai and McDavid run into each other in practice and break each others legs, will never, ever, see #1C duties.

I think you're overrating Draisaitl and RNH here. Draisaitl hasn't shown the ability to be an elite #1 center when not playing with McDavid, it's more fair to say he's an top line winger who can be your #2C in a pinch. RNH isn't a #1C, he's probably an above average 2C.

I really think Oilers fans may fall into a trap of overrating guys who play with McDavid. Sure, if they're not playing with McDavid, their linemates may suck, but there's a massive difference between guys like Draisaitl and RNH with McDavid and without McDavid. This isn't just this season either, this is a common trend with both Draisaitl and RNH. The easy solution that I see is have RNH and Draisaitl as linemates to make a strong 2nd line, since McDavid can make a turnip effective in the NHL, but RNH and Draisaitl haven't even played 200 minutes together over Draisaitl's career.

 

[These Are The Days]

RNH is probably the biggest "could have been" in the league. He's been the victim of some really bad coaching throughout his career and never developed to his full potential. But he's now otherwise a responsible two way #2C good for chipping in here and there. He is what he is but sadly it's not even what he used to be.

Seldom do I see that explosive drive he had. But when all your coaches are idiots and you try to do the right thing and stay with the team that drafted you it's hard to blame the guy.

He has his great moments but this guy shouldve been a 80-90 point regular

 

[HugginThePost]

I think you're overrating Draisaitl and RNH here. Draisaitl hasn't shown the ability to be an elite #1 center when not playing with McDavid, it's more fair to say he's an top line winger who can be your #2C in a pinch. RNH isn't a #1C, he's probably an above average 2C.

I really think Oilers fans may fall into a trap of overrating guys who play with McDavid. Sure, if they're not playing with McDavid, their linemates may suck, but there's a massive difference between guys like Draisaitl and RNH with McDavid and without McDavid. This isn't just this season either, this is a common trend with both Draisaitl and RNH. The easy solution that I see is have RNH and Draisaitl as linemates to make a strong 2nd line, since McDavid can make a turnip effective in the NHL, but RNH and Draisaitl haven't even played 200 minutes together over Draisaitl's career.

Pssssssst........I may have been slightly exaggerating.

I won't call it flat out sarcasm.

Let's call it sarcasm lite.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Pssssssst........I may have been slightly exaggerating.

I won't call it flat out sarcasm.

Let's call it sarcasm lite.

I think that may have flown right over my head

 

[HugginThePost]

RNH is probably the biggest "could have been" in the league. He's been the victim of some really bad coaching throughout his career and never developed to his full potential. But he's now otherwise a responsible two way #2C good for chipping in here and there. He is what he is but sadly it's not even what he used to be.

Seldom do I see that explosive drive he had. But when all your coaches are idiots and you try to do the right thing and stay with the team that drafted you it's hard to blame the guy.

He has his great moments but this guy shouldve been a 80-90 point regular

"All the coaches are idiots".........come on man.

We have been hearing about coaching for ten bloody years.

Every new coach that comes in is the new savior......every one of them has been run out of town.

You think Hitch will be coaching them next year? I don't think so. They'll run Chia off (which they absolutely have to do) and the new guy will bring in his own coach.

That will be what, 10 coaches in 10 years?

I'll explain it to you like I did my sister after her 5th move because her neighbors were all assholes.

"It's you Sis, you're the asshole! Move to an acreage and you'll be fine"! Low and behold she did and she's been happy for the last decade!

 

[HugginThePost]

I think that may have flown right over my head

I will stand by the premise that they should be a lot better with that center depth.

It's just those wings.......barf!!

 

[JarvisFunk]

Im excited to see how some use McDavid as the reason for both Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins' successes in this thread.

 

[These Are The Days]

"All the coaches are idiots".........come on man.

We have been hearing about coaching for ten bloody years.

Every new coach that comes in is the new savior......every one of them has been run out of town.

You think Hitch will be coaching them next year? I don't think so. They'll run Chia off (which they absolutely have to do) and the new guy will bring in his own coach.

That will be what, 10 coaches in 10 years?

I'll explain it to you like I did my sister after her 5th move because her neighbors were all *******s.

"It's you Sis, you're the *******! Move to an acreage and you'll be fine"! Low and behold she did and she's been happy for the last decade!

Normally I would agree with this but when Todd Nelson might have been the most effective coach the Oil had it's bad news.

Almost every coach? Mac wouldn't even match lines at home

 

[2023FriendshipTour]

He wouldn't go first overall in a redraft, but he's turned into a really good #2 C and is someone you can definitely cheer for, but can't since he plays for Edmonton.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Interesting thread here. I feel liek most people would rate RNH right where he should be. A versatile low-end 1C / High-end 2C who can play on the wings and in mostly any scenario (PK, PP, 4 on 4, etc.).

I think he could be kind of Staal-esque (Jordan) if he was on more successful teams. Playing a complementary role and then slot him in where the team needs him. The problem is that Edmonton has had to lean on him way too much. It appears to me that he would do better as a side-kick, and before McDavid/Drai they tried to make him the hero.

 

[jetsfan91]

Former first overall pick. Never broken 60 points despite getting all the ice time in the world on some crappy Oilers team. I’m not too impressed. He’s having a decent season though. Hopefully he can start living up to that 6 million a year contract.

 

[Coffey]

He wouldn't go first overall in a redraft, but he's turned into a really good #2 C and is someone you can definitely cheer for, but can't since he plays for Edmonton.

How about you cheer for RNH and I'll cheer for Monahan?
Two dudes that nobody can hate.

 

[2023FriendshipTour]

How about you cheer for RNH and I'll cheer for Monahan?
Two dudes that nobody can hate.

I can live with that.. Might be the two most basic players in the NHL.

 

[seadawg]

As an Oiler fan, I'm thrilled to have him on the team. $6 million for a #2 center who can play the wing when required and is on the first unit power play? Nothing wrong with that at all. There are many things wrong with the Oilers, but their depth at center isn't one of them. RNH isn't the best 2nd line center in the league, but he's a solid player. I think he's in the same category as Johansen, Couturier, O'Reilly, Duchene, Monahan, Johnson, etc. He isn't among the elite centers in the league, but he certainly belongs in the discussion as part of the second tier.

 

[sens13]

get's quite overrated but he's still a really good #2C. not really sure if he would be considered a #1C. needs to hit 60 points at least.

 

[Coffey]

I can live with that.. Might be the two most basic players in the NHL.

Generic hockey players Ryan and Sean.

 

[OilCanada92]

I don't know why people are saying he'd just had a hot start to this season. He has 29 goals and 70 points in his last 82 games. That's going back to late October of last season.