Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tried to downplay Leon Draisaitl’s second 100-point season.
“What’s that? I got 100 too … OK, in junior,” joked Draisaitl’s left-winger the last two months.
Indeed, Nugent-Hopkins parlayed that 106-point season in 69 WHL games with the Red Deer Rebels in 2010-11 into the No. 1 pick that June. But, as we all know, he’s never climbed that big mountain with the Edmonton Oilers through to this, his ninth season to become the longest-standing current Oilers player, two games shy of the 600-game plateau.
He doesn’t have Draisaitl’s size or sweet backhand ability, that snow-shovel for a stick or the wicked one-time. But then again, who does? And not just here, either, but around the NHL.
What Nugent-Hopkins has is consistency, when he’s been able to avoid injuries like a separated shoulder or broken hand. Plus, the best two-way game of all the Oilers forwards. He has 435 points in 598 games, one behind Esa Tikkanen for 11th on their all-time list. But this season, he’s been on a two-month heater with 33 points in 24 games, including 13 goals, since mvoving from centre to left-wing on New Year’s Eve. He’s got 53 points in 59 games.
“Coaches have players that when you look down the bench and you see their name, and you just know they’ll do the job for you,” said Oilers coach Dave Tippett, tossing off the ultimate coaching compliment, trust. “That reputation is earned through their play.
“Nuge is so smart in every situation, which makes him such a good player. You put him out there, and as a coach you know you’re going to get what you’re looking for.”
Same with Draisaitl, who has 102 points now.
“Leon can get free and he knows Nuge will get him the puck because he reads off him so well,” said Tippett.
Nugent-Hopkins missed six games from late November to early December with a bad wrist, something he had been playing with for weeks. Since Tippett decided to move Draisaitl from left-wing with Connor McDavid and put Nugent-Hopkins on left wing from his normal centre spot with Kailer Yamamoto, the line’s been virtually unstoppable. Yamamoto has 21 points in 21 games.
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Like so many other centres, Nugent-Hopkins has proven he can move to wing.
“Well, I’ve really only down it twice, with Connor and Leon,” said Nugent-Hopkins, wanting the world to know it’s not like he’s played left wing with everybody.
But he touches so many parts of the game on the wing, mainly with his hockey IQ. He got the game-winner against Winnipeg on Saturday, burying one with his patented wrist shot low to the goalie’s blocker side with five minutes left.
“If I had missed that one, I’d have been kicking myself. I had so much time,” he said.
Maybe, but he made no mistake for his 19th goal of the year, and fourth game-winner.
“In my own mind I’m a winger, at least now. Playing with Connor and Leon obviously makes the transition to the wing easier. The more Leon and I play together, the more we do know where each other’s going to be,” said Nugent-Hopkins, who routinely switches off with Draisaitl on the defensive end of things down low as both are still centres away from the puck.
“Definitely a different workload, centre vs. the wing. Biggest and hardest adjustment is playing along the wall so much more, reading where the other team’s D-men are and trying to protect the puck. I have a greater appreciation of the job wingers do now,” he said.
With Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins is just glad to be able to keep the ball rolling.
“Outstanding to think how fast Leon’s got to 100, pretty crazy. Maybe he doesn’t show it, but inside I’m sure he’s pretty proud, and excited,” said Nugent-Hopkins.
Nugent-Hopkins had a career best 69 points last year, when he played all 82 games. If he keeps at the same pace he’s on now, he might surpass that this season, despite starting out with 20 points in the first 35 games.
“Not the start I wanted to have, but I did have some (injury) things going on. I took a little break, I got some treatment, and I’ve felt more comfortable so I can be as productive offensively as defensively. Our line’s being really good, lots of fun and we’re seeing top defensive pairs,” he said.
And that means taking the heat off McDavid, who is now playing with newcomers Tyler Ennis and Andreas Athanasiou.
“For sure, we have to lessen the load on Connor,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “I’m sure he appreciates that.”
This ’n’ that: Nugent-Hopkins’ goal and two helpers against the Jets was his second three-point night of the season. His best was a goal and three assists against the Rangers on New Year’s Eve …Don’t be surprised if Neal (ankle) plays on this road trip. He was looking awfully chipper as he walked around the dressing room after Saturday’s game in a team sweatsuit. If Neal and Yamamoto (ankle) both come back on the three-game trip, Patrick Russell will likely be one of the forwards sitting, but who else? … Only Draisaitl, Nurse and Bear have played all 65 games.
E-mail: jmatheson@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @NHLbyMatty
