Skyrocketing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

One of the great things about being an Edmonton Oilers fan these days is watching this crop of prospects round into bona fide National Hockey Leaguers. Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle put together impressive seasons that launched them to NHL star status and 2014-2015 appears to be the year that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins follows their lead.

Sunday’s game at Madison Square Garden was the 195th of his NHL career. In his fourth year as a pro, the twenty one year old is showing increased leadership and dedication as he grows into the role of the Oilers first line centre.

On this night, Nugent-Hopkins scored once and set up Benoit Pouliot’s game winner, leading the Oilers to their second straight win.

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Honing his craft

Nugent-Hopkins has taken pride in his defensive game ever since he starred for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. This season he appears more focused on becoming a player the Oilers can count on to shut down the opposition’s top scorers.

His performance against Steven Stamkos back on October 20th was his first such statement of 2014. Not only did he score the game winning goal but he kept Stamkos off the scoresheet as the two time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner finished the game with just four shots on goal.

Nugent-Hopkins duplicated that performance again tonight against the New York Rangers, dominating U.S. Olympian Derek Stepan who is just four months removed from helping the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

Offensively, he is shooting much more often and is emerging as a player who wants the puck on his stick with the game on the line. Adding that new element to his excellent vision and playmaking abilities makes him even more of a threat.

His first period goal tonight was an example of just that as he gained possession of the puck, drew Stepan to the side boards and then worked a give and go with Eberle before finishing off the play with a snapshot past the blocker of Henrik Lundqvist. He followed that up with a beautiful set up on Pouliot’s winner. He started the play just inside his own blueline, carried the puck into the Rangers zone, delayed just above the hash marks and then feathered the pass into the high slot before Marc Staal and Derick Brassard could close in on him.

“Some of our key guys are getting stronger, like again tonight, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, this kid is coming like gangbusters right now.” – Dallas Eakins

Big Brother Nuge

Another impressive part of his growth came off ice when it was announced that Leon Draisaitl would be staying with the big club past the magic nine game mark.

The two former WHLers became roommates as Nugent-Hopkins took the rookie under his wing and will be able to help guide Draisaitl through the same ups and downs he experienced the year he was in the running for the Calder Trophy.

Nov 4, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) breaks in against Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) during the first period at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Physical Maturation

His commitment to getting stronger began when he decided not to join Hockey Canada at the World Hockey Championships last May. As a result, he came into training camp healthy and better prepared to compete physically. His much talked about fight with Dan Hamhuis of the Vancouver Canucks was proof that his strength, and the confidence that comes along with it, is at an all time high.

The final word on the emergence of the Oilers top line center goes to Head Coach Dallas Eakins.

In a media scrum after his team’s victory in the Big Apple, Eakins said “Some of our key guys are getting stronger, like again tonight, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, this kid is coming like gangbusters right now.”

Luckily, fans in Oil Country are going to have a front row seat to watch performances like this for years to come.

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