Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Taking The Step?

Over the summer we heard Craig MacTavish call Taylor Hall a star player. This is something that anyone who has ever paid attention to the Oilers knows already as a fact, this was simply just a statement by the GM that led into something a little bit bigger, a challenge. Our friend Lowetide posted a quote today from the summer that got me thinking, it was from the GM, and it went a little something like this…

(Nuge and Eberle) have a lot of room for growth. … We need to see whether they’re going to be good players or whether they’re going to be star players

This quote was a challenge in my mind to these guys back in the summer to take the next step. For Jordan Eberle, it’s year number five for him, and now we need to discuss if he is going to be a star, or just a really good complimentary player. For RNH, this is year number four, also the year we saw a major jump from Taylor Hall in.

Through the first chunk of games, Jordan Eberle has struggled a little bit. He has yet to score a goal, and has had the play die on his stick far more than ever before. There are rumblings of an injury to Eberle, and if that is the case then this is a situation that could worsen as the season wears on.

As for the Nuge, well let’s just say that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has take a solid step in the right direction for the Edmonton Oilers this year. This kid is becoming a legit star before our eyes, much in the way Taylor Hall has.

The Play:

The Nuge doesn’t have the offensive talent that Taylor Hall has, no one on this Oiler team does, but Ryan Nugent-Hopkins does have some solid offensive ability. He’s already got two goals on the season, and scored them on heavy shots that were created off of turnovers. His passing ability is second to none on this team, and his power-play ability is absolutely killer. He’s got the ability to post 70-80 points a season when he is clicking, that’s a massive contribution from the top-line center spot.

Defensively, his two-way game is getting stronger. He’s a smart player with a high hockey IQ that has the ability to read plays and prevent chances against. He’s a guy that can play on a team’s PK too, making him an extremely valuable player. His skating is really good too, and his overall vision, both offensively and defensively, is above average.

He’s a player you can build a team around with that potential.

The Next Step:

Is this guy taking the next step? I think so. Offensively, he has looked good this season, creating chances with not only his passing, but with his shot as well, something he was afraid to do in years past. His power-play ability is looking better than last year too, which would greatly help a unit that struggled in a big way just one season ago, and his PK ability has been massive behind Boyd Gordon.

Nuge is winning more battles too, which is absolutely massive in his development. He’s a guy that in years past had been easily beaten off of pucks and in battles, but that is no longer the case. Yes, he still loses some, but he’s gotten much better in this regard.

The mistakes have been cut down in a massive way, and he’s started to look like a player that can take the bulk in all three areas of the game, which is extremely important in the tough western conference of the NHL.

Lastly, the Nuge looks healthy and looks more equipped to take on the big dogs. That is a huge step forward, because you can’t have eighteen year old RNH battling Joe Thornton, Henrik Sedin or Ryan Getzlaf and expect success, it just does not work that way.

Overview:

If Edmonton wants to make the playoffs this season, they need their top-center making things happen and becoming a star in the NHL. Through the first chunk of games this season, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has done that. He’s been better offensively, and has been better in the areas where he must step up, and those are all away from the puck.

If the Nuge can keep this up and truly take that next step to being a star in this league, the Oilers will be in a very good position moving forward. This guy can be special, and Edmonton badly needs him to be.

Has the Nuge fully taken that next step? Not fully, but he’s certainly made massive strides, and is starting to turn that corner. Buckle up friends, this could be a very special player.