Oilers expecting key veteran forward to take a step back this season

While Nugent-Hopkins has seen time on the wing in the past, he is considered a natural center and has expressed a preference for playing up the middle, the position for which he was drafted 1st overall in 2011 by the Oilers.

Head Coach Kris Knoblauch may still experiment with line combinations during training camp and throughout the season, but Nugent-Hopkins is a strong candidate for the 3C position.

To begin with, the McDavid-Hyman 1st-line pairing is highly effective on its own, while the line's overall production dips when RNH is involved.

Early in the 2024-25 season, RHH's expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) and high-danger chance percentage (HDCF%) were among the worst on the team, according to Evolving Hockey.

While he is not expected to match his 100+ point season, the drop in Ryan's overall offensive contribution is cause for concern.

For example, during the 2024-25 season, the McDavid/RNH duo had a low on-ice shooting percentage of 8.2%, a major factor in Connor McDavid's decreased production from the year before.

RNH's production also decreased considerably since his 2022-23 104-point season, to 67 points the following year, and 49 points last year.

Nugent-Hopkins possesses a strong two-way game and is a responsible defensive player, making him a valuable asset down the middle, where defensive responsibility is a key area of the position.

As a 3C, RNH's skills can be better utilized, and his focus won't be so much on the offensive side of the game. However, the season is a long one, and he may very well have reps on the wing, depending on injury and/or poor production higher-up in the lineup.

RNH's versatility up and down the line-up will be useful as the Oilers once again makes its bid for the Stanley Cup.