Is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at Risk of Losing His Role on the Oilers?

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins‘ offensive struggles this season have raised questions about his long-term role with the Edmonton Oilers. Allan Mitchell of The Athletic recently discussed the way the forward mix has played out in Edmonton this season, and things haven’t gone as expected. He highlighted Nugent-Hopkins’ declining production, noting that his offensive numbers have dipped for a second consecutive season. If these struggles continue, his spot in a feature role could be in jeopardy as early as next summer.

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Mitchell writes, “Nugent-Hopkins is struggling alongside McDavid, with disappointing offensive output and a goal share that doesn’t tower over other options.” He adds:

“Nugent-Hopkins is off the pace. He isn’t getting to as many pucks as in previous seasons. His offence fell last season (2023-24) and is falling again this year. His time in a feature role will be in question next summer if he plays the rest of the season at current levels.”

Nugent-Hopkins’ Long Leash Has To Be Getting Shorter

Nugent-Hopkins’ five-on-five scoring has become a growing concern, especially as the Oilers look for consistent secondary scoring. Nuge was meant to be a key driver on the team alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. His previous 104-point season made it seem like Nugent-Hopkins was a value contract with an incredibly high ceiling. But, since the 2022-23 season, he’s been a shadow of that player.

He posted 67 points in 2023-24 and this season, he’s on pace for 44 points. It’s a respectable level of production, and Nugent-Hopkins offers a unique skill set, but he’s not producing enough to be a given over other offensive options. Mitchell pointed out that Nugent-Hopkins has struggled to generate offense alongside McDavid, raising speculation about whether the Oilers should explore alternative options in their top six.

Mitchell says that Evander Kane is too far away to make a difference this season. He also wonders if it’s too soon to give a look to a young forward like Matt Savoie. That said, how long before the Oilers look to someone like Savoie in a prominent role, should Nugent-Hopkins not find a way to up his offensive output?

For now, the Oilers will likely give Nugent-Hopkins more opportunities to regain his form. However, if he doesn’t start pulling his weight, his feature role on the team will no longer be a given.

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