Saying Nuge might be a 3rd line center with average offence at best really ruins your credibility...
Well he certainly didn't look like a #1 last year that's for sure.
1st 3 seasons of top 10 picks who might be considered #1 centers on their respective teams.
RNH - 132/182 = .72
Spezza - 166/179 = .92 points percentage
M.Koivu - 117/203 = .57
E.Stall - 201/245 = .82
Malkin - 304/231 = 1.32
Crosby - 294/213 = 1.38
Toews - 191/222 = .86
N.Backstrom - 258/246 = 1.04
L.Couture - 130/184 = .71
Stamkos - 232/243 = .95
Tavares - 202/243 = .83
Duchene - 150/219 = .68
Seguin - 121/203 = .59
R.Johansen - 96/189 = .51
So I suppose some hyperbole was involved in that statement as he is "in the range", also most of the guys who he tends to cluster with were not #1 centers there first 3 seasons. Also,if we compare to 1st overall picks only who have at least 3 seasons:
Crosby - 294/213 = 1.38
Stamkos - 232/243 = .95
Tavares - 202/243 = .83
So for a 1st overall he leaves a lot to be desired, although all the guys with the highest points percentage play in the east coast hockey league so...
I'd like to do a more in depth analysis as I suspect that his underlying numbers aren't quite as flattering although that has a lot to do with deployment, and since I am no fan of Eakins it wouldn't surprise me to see that he some of things Eakins has them doing are impacting performance in a negative fashion.
For example, MC79 is doing some interesting work that shows that after an OZ faceoff win last year with Gagner or RNH on the ice the oilers were terrible at generating shots for. This might be the result of a tactical deployment that has wingers more aggressively supporting a face off win which results in poor position making it easier for the opposition to regain the puck. His analysis did show that faceoff wins increased after a certain point last season but the drawback was that shots for after an OZ win plummeted.
So all in all, if RNH is our guy, this is his season to demonstrate that he's a number one center. Which is why I indicated that he needs to bounce back.