The Edmonton Oilers have made some big news today. They have signed top line center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to a seven year contract extension that will take effect starting July 1st of next summer. This will ensure that RNH (barring trade) will be an Oiler for the next eight seasons.
This kid is a tremendous young hockey player and no doubt has proven that he can handle the top line role he has been given. He had a good offensive season his rookie year, and while the counted stats weren’t great last year, the Nuge improved his all-around game and was very good against top competition.
If RNH’s shoulder surgery goes half as good as Taylor Hall’s did, his offense should be back this season. He’s shown the ability to be a good first line center that can put up points and play good against the other team’s top line and have positive scoring chance numbers. That’s something Edmonton has lacked for a long, long time.
Some might question why the Oilers gave him the deal now and not in the middle of the season. It’s a valid question, but I’m perfectly fine with the Nuge getting his money now. The Oilers are clearly confident he will be back soon and will return to form, and the Oilers are also confident that he is their guy long term.
I’m willing to wager a hefty sum of money that the Oilers are smart for being confident in both. This is a special young player and a guy who should be the top pivot for a long, long time in Edmonton.
The money is decent, seven years and $42 million total, which comes out to exactly $6 M a season. That number sound familiar? That’s what Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle got for their yearly totals when they re-signed last August. It’s clear that Edmonton has set the bench mark, and no player will be signed to a deal paying him more than six a year.
Sure, those three players alone will eat up $18 M a year, but the cap should be going back up again next season, and the Oilers have some hefty salaries coming off the books this year summer. That includes Ales Hemsky’s $5 M deal.
Overall, the Edmonton Oilers did exactly what any other team in the NHL would have done. They re-signed their young, top line center to a long-term contract. Hall, Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins are in it for the long haul, and if you’re an Edmonton Oilers fan, that’s absolutely awesome news to hear.
Oilers brass loves RNH, and they have a lot of reason to. This kid is special and is going to be an absolute star.
The Oilers will be holding a press conference at 6:30 PM est/4:30 PM MT. You can listen to that live on 630 Ched. Follow me on twitter @Alex_Thomas14 for more details as the day goes on.
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