Latest news with #RyanNugentHopkins
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Four Oilers Invited to Team Canada's 2025 Olympic Orientation Camp
Team Canada has taken its first significant step toward building its men's hockey roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, and four Edmonton Oilers players are firmly in the conversation. Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard were all named to Hockey Canada's 2025 National Teams Orientation Camp roster. McDavid's inclusion is no surprise. The best player in the league, along with Sidney Crosby, will be the face of the team. Whether he serves as team captain remains to be seen, and it will be a highly debated topic of conversation, but this team is not complete without No. 97. The 2026 Games will mark his first Olympic appearance after NHL players did not participate in 2018 or 2022. He was part of the 4 Nations Face-Off, but this is something different. Also on the invite list, but not a part of the 4 Nations series is Zach Hyman. Hyman's invitation is either an indication that those who selected the 4 Nations team made a mistake, or this committee wants to give him a chance to prove he belongs. He has been a stud for the Oilers since signing with the team as a free agent, and he's just a season removed from a 54-goal campaign in 2023-24. He's coming back from a wrist injury that could delay his return to the 2025-26 regular season, but if he misses time, it won't be much. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the veteran of the group. His selection feels like a bit of a long shot given his recent decline in production. However, he's a solid two-way forward with experience and an ability to play in all situation, including the power play and penalty kill. Also making it from the Oilers is defenseman Evan Bouchard. He just signed a new four-year contract extension worth $10.5 million per season, and he's one of the league's elite offensive defensemen. There are high expectations for this player, but he seems ready to live up to them. Bouchard posted 82 points in 2023-24, and followed that up with a 67-point season in 2024-25. Most impressive are his playoff totals -- 55 points in the last 47 games. He's breaking records and elevating his game in big moments. That's exactly what Team Canada might be looking for. His poise and booming shot might be a weapon on the team's power play. That said, Team Canada will have plenty of firepower with Cale Makar a shoo-in for the roster. He might be among the most intriguing possibilities among Canada's deep defensive options. Canada's camp roster doesn't guarantee selection, but for these Oilers, it confirms their names are in the mix. With all four expected to play key roles in Edmonton's push for the Stanley Cup this season, a strong 2025-26 campaign could punch their ticket to Italy. Who makes the team and who doesn't. McDavid is the one certainty provided he stays healthy. The others have a good shot, but might need to start the regular season on a roll to be seriously considered. 6 Oilers Who Can Sign New Extensions This Year EDMONTON – Things only slow down from here.
New York Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Is Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins reaching a career crossroads?
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is one of the most popular players to ever throw on Edmonton Oilers threads. Fans love his expert passing, defensive acumen and overall intelligence on the ice. He is always in the play, as his skating is a combination of grace and economy. Adding to his popularity are the moments when 'The Nuge' has been asked to change positions (centre to wing and back again) or move down the depth chart. Nugent-Hopkins has shown a great deal of class over his 14 Edmonton seasons, many of those winters featuring harsh climate and a lot of losses. Advertisement Fans of the team spend hours contemplating the individual captain Connor McDavid will choose to hand off the Stanley Cup on the day the Oilers win it all again. Nuge is a popular choice. There are some realities about the relationship between team and player, though. Now 32, and less than a season from regular-season Game 1,000 with Edmonton, Nugent-Hopkins' play last year suggests a feature role may no longer be warranted. At five-on-five last season, Nugent-Hopkins posted just 1.24 points per 60. It was the third lowest of his career, and came while he played 43 percent of those five-on-five minutes with McDavid. The two men scored 3.00 GF-60 (with a 53 percent goal share together), with McDavid's line increasing output to 3.87 GF-60 (55 percent share) with Nugent-Hopkins not on the ice. Without the captain, the RNH line posted just 2.08 GF-60 with a 47 percent goal share. When playing with McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins' individual scoring (1.50 points per 60, 3-8-11 in 440:28 minutes) was not strong. A year ago, he scored 2.26 points per 60 with the captain, and that included 1.02 goals per 60. This season, without McDavid on his line, Nugent-Hopkins produced just 1.04 points per 60. Nugent-Hopkins has always been a complementary scorer at five-on-five. His best seasons offensively in the game state came with linemates McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle pushing the river. If the 2024-25 season is a reflection of his current skills, Nugent-Hopkins is an offensive drag on the No. 1 line in Edmonton. It may be a reason the club targeted Andrew Mangiapane in free agency. In many ways, Nugent-Hopkins' greatest strengths have been overshadowed by others. Once dubbed a 'power-play witch' by (now) Carolina Hurricanes assistant general manager Tyler Dellow, he has nevertheless played in the shadow of greater talents during his career. From Hall-Eberle to McDavid-Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins has been a charter member of exceptional power plays and delivered offensively. Advertisement The team's vaunted power play slipped from 10.52 goals per 60 (2023-24) to 8.9 goals per 60 (2024-25). The PP went from second in the NHL to No. 11 year over year. Nugent-Hopkins' offensive output with the man advantage fell to 4.94 points per 60, the lowest since 2017-18. His scoring did return (1.73 goals per 60) with the man advantage, and based on his skill set, Nugent-Hopkins would be a difficult player to take off the power play. There is erosion, though. For most of his career, Nugent-Hopkins has averaged between 90 seconds and two minutes per game on the penalty kill. That kind of consistency is a gift to the coaching staff, and much of his skill set is well-suited to the role. Nugent-Hopkins has always been a demon on the forecheck, anticipates well and is adept at quick starts and stops that are often required when a man down. In many ways, this is his wheelhouse as a player. In 2023-24, the PK was middle of the pack (15 of 32) with a 7.55 GA-60, and in 2024-25 was slightly less effective (7.94 GA-60, No. 17). Evaluating penalty killers is almost impossible. It's such a small sample per game (and season), there's a wide range of outcomes on the best penalty-killing units. Time on ice is a big item. If a coach doesn't like the performance, he'll change out the player for a replacement. Nugent-Hopkins has stayed in the lineup for a decade, and ranked No. 1 on the Oilers in total ice time and in per-game totals. He was No. 2 among regulars (behind Adam Henrique) in GA-60 last season, and should be one of the key members of the rotation next year. As his career has moved along, Nugent-Hopkins has gotten better at faceoffs. Never a strength, he reached 48.5 percent last year, raising his career percentage to 44.5 over his career. His lack of success in this area was one reason for his move to the wing, and may well contribute to his staying there even if RNH lands on the second or third line this winter. Advertisement In his latest 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman discussed general manager Stan Bowman's summer so far. He mentioned the team was limited in what it was able to do, citing no-movement clauses. Friedman detailed Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson agreeing to waive their NMCs, then mentioned Darnell Nurse and Adam Henrique had been asked to waive, and declined. 'I think Edmonton went to check with all their guys with no-trade clauses, who they would want to move, and see how many were willing to go places. Arvidsson said he was, so he went. Nurse, I don't think he wants to go anywhere; Henrique, I'm not sure he wants to go anywhere,' Friedman said. This is interesting information about the new general manager and how he sees the roster moving forward. Henrique is a free agent next season, but Nurse will be eligible for the same conversation in the summer of 2026. Nurse's contract calls for an easing of the no-movement clause in 2027, with a 10-team no-trade list being submitted by the player. One question that does arise from this information: Was Nugent-Hopkins asked to waive? And if not, why not? Based on age, cap hit ($5.125 million for the next four years) and performance, he would seem to be a reasonable trade option for a team looking for room under the cap. It brings home a reality for this organization. The heart of this team is passing through its prime seasons, and winning the Stanley Cup has been elusive. Bowman appears to be willing to contemplate difficult moves and to ask tough questions of his players. If he did ask Nugent-Hopkins, why is it not public while the other names are public? If he didn't ask Nugent-Hopkins, what was his reasoning? The numbers suggest he will be unable to hang on to a top-six role at five-on-five in the future, and that future could be now. A $5,125 million contract on the third line is inefficient. Oilers fans should take heart in knowing Bowman is willing to look at the roster with a more critical eye than Ken Holland. It may be appropriate to ask why he didn't (apparently) go another step and ask Nugent-Hopkins the same question that was asked of Nurse, Henrique and others.
CTV News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Brick Invitational bringing top youth hockey players to showcase talent at West Edmonton Mall
Players and organizers said the main goal of the Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament is for the young athletes to have fun. Some of North America's most promising young hockey players will be in Edmonton this weekend for the annual Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament. The tournament will celebrate 36 years on Monday, when the opening puck drop takes place at 7:30 a.m. at the West Edmonton Mall Ice Palace. 'The 36 years have gone very fast. The first one is a great memory, and as well as the one last year,' said tournament chair Craig Styles. The week-long competition features 14 youth hockey teams, with players aged nine and 10, from Canada and the U.S. It wraps up on July 6 with the final championship game at noon. Styles said about 82 per cent of kids who play in the invitational go on to play hockey at higher levels, from the Alberta Junior Hockey League to the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League. 'They form a foundation here. More and more in the last 10 or 15 years, we see where the cream has risen to the top at this tournament,' he added. Former invitation players who have gone on to NHL careers include Connor Bedard, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Steven Stamkos. A full schedule, live feeds and up-to-date game results can be found on the Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament website.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Stanley Cup live updates: Oilers at Panthers Game 6
The Edmonton Oilers are in Florida for a must-win Game 6 in the Stanley Cup Final vs. the Panthers. This is it. The Edmonton Oilers need to win tonight. If they do, they'll get to play one more game. And not just any game: Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. That should sound familiar. Last year, the Oilers and Panthers took it to the best-of-seven limit in the Cup Final, won by Florida. If the Oilers lose, their season is over. The Panthers lead the best-of-seven series heading into Tuesday's tilt three games to two. Follow along here for live updates as I keep tabs on Game 6 in Sunrise, Fla. Play Oilers hoping to force Game 7 in Stanley Cup Final As CTV Edmonton's Nicole Lampa reports, the Florida Panthers are one game away from a second consecutive Stanley Cup. 3:05 p.m. - Skinner to start in goal Stuart Skinner is getting the call for Game 6. The Oilers goalie will start Tuesday night, head coach Kris Knoblauch said after the morning skate. Skinner was pulled in Game 4 after allowing three goals on 17 shots in the first period. Calvin Pickard took over the net as the Oilers won that game in overtime, but lost as their Game 5 starter. Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins didn't skate Tuesday morning, but Knoblauch said he expects the 15-year veteran of the team to play in Game 6. Other lineup changes announced by Knoblauch:
Associated Press
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Skinner or Pickard? Oilers' Knoblauch still not naming starting goalie for Stanley Cup Final Game 6
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — It's anyone's guess who starts in goal for the Edmonton Oilers when they face elimination in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Coach Kris Knoblauch did not say Monday whether it would be Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard. 'It's who we feel can win us a game,' Knoblauch said after practice. 'That's how it's gone in other games, and we'll make that decision.' Skinner was Edmonton's starting goaltender to begin the playoffs, lost the first two games and was replaced by Pickard, who went 6-0 before getting injured. Skinner also started the first four in the final, got pulled twice and for Pickard, who won Game 4 and lost Game 5. 'A strength of our team is that we can go with both guys,' winger Connor Brown said. 'They're up for the challenge. I mean, they're both absolute pros. Both have given this their best every time they come in there, and they both work hard, so we're in it as a group.' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins did not practice Monday, though Knoblauch expects the Oilers' longest-tenured player to be in the lineup Tuesday night in Sunrise. That is a constant, even if Nugent-Hopkins is not 100% healthy, though there could be other changes coming. Either Jeff Skinner or Vasily Podkolzin may be ticketed for the press box as a healthy scratch up front, while John Klingberg is a candidate to return on defense. Status quo Panthers Florida will be making no such changes, barring something unforeseen, in the first chance to clinch back-to-back championships. The same 12 forwards and six defensemen who have been in place since A.J. Greer returned from injury in Game 3 figure to be in the lineup again. 'It's all health based,' coach Paul Maurice said. 'We're a pretty healthy team, fortunately, at this point, and we've got good players.' That includes Matthew Tkachuk, who missed the remainder of the regular season after getting injured at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. After some ups and downs and uncertainty, he's 'feeling the best' he has during this run. 'I thought there was maybe a 50% chance I wouldn't be playing as close to about a week or five days before the playoffs started,' Tkachuk said. 'Very lucky and fortunate that I've got great trainers and doctors, and they all somehow got me healthy enough to play.' Florida Olympians The Panthers have five players already bound for the 2026 Olympics in Milan: Tkachuk for the U.S., Sam Reinhart for Canada, Aleksander Barkov for Finland, Nico Sturm for Germany and Uvis Balinskis for Latvia. The 12 teams participating unveiled their preliminary six-man rosters Monday. Sturm and Balinskis have not played in the final, but the Olympic announcements put them in the spotlight. 'Being an Olympian is something that not a lot of athletes can say about their careers,' Sturm said. 'It's the best athletes in the world from every sport, and it's definitely something that I've marked on my calendar, something that I want to achieve in my career. It'd be a huge accomplish to be able to play there and, once your career's done, to say you participated in the Olympics, I think that's a huge accomplishment not to be understated.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
