I couldn’t decide between Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Sean Couturier at the 2011 draft, and these years later we come to find the Oilers made a fine choice. Of course, in the following seasons the team would draft Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, so Nuge has spent much of the last decade playing on the wing. Please read this.
Many folks, and I believe team management, believe he is more effective on the wing. I do too, matter of fact. However, it’s a tough argument to make either way, since RNH plays with one of the Glimmer Twins when on the wing. That’s a cherry spot, folks. For the record, Nuge’s best run was on the wing in 2019-20 with Draisaitl and Kailer Yamamoto.
In the last three NHL regular seasons the numbers are fascinating.
- Nuge w/97&29: 20 minutes, 8.89GF-60, 75 Goal Pct (71X)
- Nuge solo (C): 1317 minutes, 2 GF-60, 44 Goal Pct (51X)
- Nuge with 97: 1500 minutes, 3.36 GF-60, 55 Goal Pct (59X)
- Nuge with 29: 216 minutes, 2.78 GF-60, 50 Goal Pct (55X)
Nuge solo in the last three seasons has delivered just a 44 percent goal share, although 51 expected. One can blame his wingers and RNH too, the ability to finish at an elite rate belongs to McDavid and Draisaitl. Still, the GA-60 (2.55) solo is stronger than when 93 played with either center. He needs a driver on the wing if he’s a center.
I believe Nuge on a No. 3 line, facing softer minutes, and playing with one truly talented veteran winger, could be a key piece to the Edmonton Oilers. He is 33. For a player to make a significant difference at that age is rare indeed.
I understand the appeal of running McDavid-RNH. Over the last three regular seasons, 97-93 own a 2.76 GA-60, while McDavid without 93 and 29 is at 3.15 GA-60.
Meanwhile, McDavid with Matt Savoie and Zach Hyman were 2.02 GA-60 in 89 minutes. GF-60: 3:36. Goal Share: 63 percent. Savoie may give the new coach an opportunity to put Nuge in a position to deliver the best outscoring number of his career at five-on-five. Savoie with McDavid scored 2.14 points-60 in 2025-26, Nuge was at 1.86 points-60 with the captain. It’s time to have the talk.
The Edmonton Oilers’ best approach to the 2026 NHL Draft
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7284571/2026/05/17/edmonton-oilers-2026-nhl-draft-preview/
I would think everyone likes the players, except maybe a few. And not any goalie. But fondness isn’t a strategy for a winning pro sports team. I’ve been of the opinion for a while these movement clauses are in the problem phase, as most expected would happen at some point
Hyman has outperformed his contract which was too high and long when it was signed. Nuge took a lower cap hit than he could have made elsewhere, offset by term and protection
To me it seemed that when the decline started the cap hits would be low enough so the two could slide down the line up. It looks like the flat cap over a few years threw a hitch into that, 5M is still too much for a bottom 6 except maybe a 3C
Is Nuge a Swiss Army knife, or a player delivering more periods of not enough contribution that the coach has to work to find a spot for? A team that wants to win a Cup needs every player to contribute, there isn’t room to hide a higher cap player, sometimes even a lower cap player
Is Hyman at the broken phase now? Can’t have players that can’t hit the playoffs in good enough shape to help. The right thing to do would be sell players heading into this phase while they have rep, and replenish. Or you age out. Nuge has full protection but when Hyman’s eases will he still have any significant value? Nurse might not be the only guy who gets the hard conversation
I believe it was Danny who provided the magic troll buster button and I just wanted to give a shout out. Such a pleasure now!
Perhaps the biggest quality of life improvement ever done for this blog.
We need big steps forward by our young players this year and a flawless free agency
Agreed. I hope they can just sign the Hawk guys and skip the rest of free agency. A coach that can run the team better will hopefully float all boats if they do have to bring in a new guy. I think the way KK runs things was a big part of so few working out and so many players struggling
And another Podkolzin trade
Must have been one hell of a 1000th game celebration – hangover lasted 3 months
Years ago I envisioned Nuge and Hyman being on a tough third line, seems Nuge ended up there faster than Hyman. Still hard to believe Zack’s scoring pace with McD when healthy.
I believe Nuge still has a large role to play on the team, but not in the top 6. Need one more winger for Drai, hopefully Howard/Berezkin can step up and Savoie/Podz continue their development. It would be much less risky bringing an established top 6 winger, but that involves a Bowman trade or UFA signing. Not sure I trust him with either. We wait.
No knock on RNH, but if he is still playing significant minutes in the top six at 5 on 5, the team has not improved and could be yet another lost year. He is getting older now. Prospects need to start passing him or better players need to be brought in.
Savoie McD Hyman
Howard Drai Kyrou
Podz RNH Kap
Frederic Samanski Dach
You need to swap Podz and Howard.
And Fred and Dach, Fred prefers RW and Dach shoots left. Nuge at 3C is popular, I don’t think he has the wheels for it, he’s never been fast. He’s not reliable defensively anymore, has his runs of being good and then fades. No coach leaves him at C and it’s been years of that, this while his production didn’t warrant top 6 and there was a hole at 3C
I think you are right and he should be on the 3rd line permanently now. Whether that be on the dot or wing if they sign Dickenson or another 3rd line C man option. Haula could be a possibility (older), Scissons, Jenner, Laughton. Lots of possibilities at the 3rd line dot. They just have to make a deal that the $$$$ works on. But Nuge on the 3rd line wing is where he should be.
I envision an RNH still being the ultimate swiss army knife. 1PP, 1/2 PK, option for a softer outscoring line as W or C, and the back up matchup C that can saw off elites. But agree the McDavid winger role should go to someone who gets boosted more than RNH has shown
i think it is RNH being a Swiss Army knife that keeps him on McDavid’s wing. All coaches go back to 97-29 when they are down in the 3rd period. I believe this means that the winger being switched with Leon has to be able to play centre. I think the only top nine winger that plays centre on the oilers is RNH, and until there is another winger/centre hybrid in the team, RNH will spend more time on McDavid’s wing then the folks on this site (including me) will like.
I wonder if any of the Oiler players decide to ask to be traded or if any UFA’s decide that they want to go to the open market instead of wanting to stay here..Some players could see this organization as one starting to decline.There are a lot of young teams on the assent .It could be an interesting summer.
Issac Howard with two goals today for Team USA.
Could be time to add Howard to our PP1 group (maybe the Nuge spot). He was outstanding in that game this morning… 1 of those 2 goals was on the PP.
Nuge had a stron 2025 playoffs and a strong start to 2025/26.
His season regression started essentially mid-way though his 1000th game and he never recovered. I’ve heard rumblings of another appendage bust but just rumblings.
I expect a better Nuge in 2026/27 but role is changing here…..