NUGE?????

Some interesting news coming out of Edmonton Thursday, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was a full participate in Oilers practice today, including contact drills. It’s a big deal, because Edmonton’s top pivot returning is a huge boost to a lineup that is lacking NHL level centers in the worst way.

Bob Stauffer broke the news on twitter on Thursday afternoon, as the Oilers were going through a chippy heavy contact drill, tweeting out the following message:

Oilers in a heavy compete drill in practice lots of contact and @RNH_93 fully in the fray

Jason Gregor of TSN 1260 also reported that RNH should be back next Thursday night when the Oilers host the Canadiens, and that there is a slim chance we could see him earlier (AKA Monday). That’s great news, as the Oilers need RNH if they want to compete for a playoff spot.

The Oilers looked good overall on Tuesday night. They out chanced, shot and had better corsi numbers than the Jets, and adding their top center will only help that cause.

RNH is the Oilers best option down the middle, but the Oilers have a few different options to move him back into the lineup. Number one is to shift Hall back to the wing and keep Arcobello, Gordon and Acton in the middle, while the second option is to ease Nuge back into the lineup and keep Hall at center, going with Hall, RNH, Gordon and Acton.

What the Oilers will do when Nuge is ready is anyone’s guess, but everyone agrees that this is a huge boost to an Oilers line-up that could really use it down the middle. RNH coming back early is just what the doctor ordered in Edmonton.