Nuge has always been a good two-way player. He's long been the best two-way center on the Oilers. It took people looking past the "lulz Oilers" factor to actually see that.
Not that he's not still good regardless, but this doesn't say a whole lot.
Bergeron is a top 10 centre, Couture a top 20 centre. That's conservative too and you call them #2C?!?I think of David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan Kesler or Logan Couture type guys when I think of Elite #2C's.
He's not there yet. He might get there in the near future, but he's not there yet now.
I think of David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan Kesler or Logan Couture type guys when I think of Elite #2C's.
He's not there yet. He might get there in the near future, but he's not there yet now.
Bergeron a 2C....what?
A month ago there were posters calling him a bust. What a difference actually watching a player play makes.....
He's a quality offensive 2C good for ~52 points a year if healthy but the faceoff numbers (45.6% last two seasons) and defensive numbers (+0.07 xGA60.Rel) are hardly indicative of the lead two-way player he is billed as.
You don't want him playing 20+ minutes a game as your #1C and you don't want him shutting down the opponent's top line as your #2C either. His best fit is a sheltered 2C on a scoring line.
He'll end up a solid #2C? He's already an elite #2C.
Players like Nuge often get underrated. He's not a goal scorer, he doesn't dominate the high-lite reel, but he does all the small things that create goals. He gets assists for it sometimes, sometimes not, but hes the kind of player that often always has a hand in the goal scored when he's on the ice.
Might not be a hugely popular opinion, but he reminds me of a somewhat better version of Kyle Turris.
Good height, undersized weight wise. Can run a line, great vision, uses line mates as much, probably more then needed, underrated goal scoring and very responsible defensively.
Actually that's not a bad comparison. He has the potential to do a lot more than he does offensively. He just focuses on defense first, so it hurts his numbers, and therefore his perception amongst those who don't watch him as often. There's a reason he scored at a 69 point pace as a rookie