Is there a team out there that values Ryan Nugent-Hopkins more than the Edmonton Oilers might? Perhaps a club that sees Nuge as a first-line center and not a complementary winger? According to Oilers insider Bob Stauffer, there is!
On his radio show yesterday morning, after questioning guest David Staples (Cult of Hockey) on whether or not he thought there were any teams that saw the former 1st-overall pick as a first-line center, he said this about RNH,
“I’ll give you one (team), right now. They’ve got a couple of really good young centers but they’re not there yet and that’s (Ryan) Suzuki and (Jesperi) Kotkaniemi. And then they’ve got (Phillip) Danault, who’s basically an excellent third-line center I’m not sure they want to pay in Montreal. So I would suggest the Canadiens might see Nugent-Hopkins as a first-line center.”
Stauffer was trying to make the point that there are few hockey execs that see Nuge as a 1C and the majority see him as an “elite complementary winger” who is fantastic on the PP that is NOT a driver 5×5 as a centreman.
He added,
“The reality is, as a 5×5 player, you know what the numbers are over the course of his career as a centre.”
I think we can all deduce from Bob’s words that number ninety-three probably isn’t as good at 5×5 play as someone who was drafted as high as he was should be.
Staples’ point was that he believes there could be one GM out there who’s in a tough spot that will convince himself that Nugent-Hopkins IS a first-line pivot and he will be able to produce at the same rate he does on Connor McDavid’s or Leon Draisaitl’s wing.
“He could easily get, if he plays with Draisaitl and Yamamoto, I think he’s a good bet for a point-per-game this year in the NHL and as a free-agent, you get paid for points.”
To be clear, Staples thinks that going overboard and paying RNH $8Mx8 is a mistake and that he’s more deserving of a deal akin to those of Chris Kreider and Brendan Gallagher, who sign pre-COVID (Kreider) and post (Gallagher) for around $6.5Mx6 if I’m not mistaken.
My feeling is that I could definitely see the long-time Edmonton Oiler move on to cash in on his next contract. Why not? Money is tight at the moment and if he’s to be one of the top draws free-agent-wise in 2021, there’s nothing wrong with listening. He doesn’t have to sign elsewhere, right? He can do what Steven Stamkos did and entertain the best offers in the league and eventually re-sign with his original team even if the money IS better elsewhere.
The wildcard team in all of that speculation is the Seattle Kraken. Could you imagine if the Oilers lost both Tyson Barrie and Nugent-Hopkins to Seattle next summer?
I will say this too though, what if Edmonton’s plan is to bring back Hall because he’ll sign a $6Mx6yr deal? Would that push RNH out? Conversely, would it convince him to stay?
It’ll be an interesting little show to watch over the course of the season, no doubt.
Staples and Stauffer also chimed in on Oilers prospect Dylan Holloway and they both agreed that the former AJHL star will leave Wisconsin early and join the Oilers sooner than later.
“He could be ready, because of his game, he can be an energy player. He gets in there fast and hard on the forecheck and he hits people. He could be an Edmonton Oiler as early as next year.“
To which Stauffer excitedly replied,
“Oh! I might take it one step further than that. I wonder, whether or not, what might end up occuring here, David. He plays for Team Canada at the World Juniors, finishes the year up at Wisconsin, that would be his second full year in the NCAA. Who knows? Sometimes guys come out after two years…”
It’s easy to forget that Holloway has already played a season of college hockey as it wasn’t all that memorable for the player. But you have to wonder, with all of the depth on the Oilers’ wings, where would they have him go?
In an ideal scenario, he’d leave his college team, and join the Oilers because there’d be room for him to play there or if there wasn’t, they could send him to the AHL to play for Jay Woodcroft and the Bakersfield Condors. However, the American Hockey League is slated to get started on Feb.5th, but there’s no guarantee that will even happen with how badly COVID is blazing through the US. I haven’t even checked, but can they even have indoor events in Bakersfield right now?
So the club would really have to ask themselves what would be better for the development of the player? Staying at Wisconsin and getting stronger and more rounded-out or leaving?
One thing I didn’t consider is an overseas loan. With all the connections Holland has and has made this calendar year, would that be an option? Maybe send him to Sweden to finish out the year.
What do you think about Nugent-Hopkins’ future in Edmonton? Is he outtie 5000 or will he re-sign? And then with Dylan Holloway, do you think he should leave Wisconsin and start his pro career early?
Let us know in the comments below!
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