Healthy Ryan Nugent-Hopkins looking to add to surging Edmonton Oilers

You might not think the Edmonton Oilers missed Ryan Nugent-Hopkins over their hottest start to the season since going 9-1 out of the gates five years ago.

But for as hot as it’s been, head coach Mike Babcock has been looking forward to adding a little more grease to an already well-oiled offence, which, so far, has relied heavily on the driving force of a top line that has accounted for better than half the team’s goals and player points.

The production has all been up front, so to speak. And he’s expecting ‘RNH’ to help spread things out a little more, especially with ice time throughout the lineup.

“Well, I had to figure out who ‘RNH’ was, so then now that I know …” the new head coach joked at morning skate ahead of Thursday’s game against the defending-champion Carolina Hurricanes. “Obviously, he’s a good player. Love having him back.

“He has to be kind to himself. If you think you’re going to miss (time) and you’re just going to be rolling, you’re not. I’ve seen the other guys and they’re usually good for two periods, and then the wheels come off a little bit.”

For Nugent-Hopkins, it’s the first step into his 15th NHL season since being drafted first overall by the Oilers in 2011, where he now serves as the elder statesman of the dressing room an on his 11th different head coach.

“It doesn’t matter how long you’ve played, the first one (back) you always have that excitement a little bit of nerves,” said Nugent-Hopkins, 33. “It’s a tough way to start, missing time, but it’s been a lot of fun watching the guys play and how hard they’re competing right now and I just want to step in and try to emulate that as much as I can.”

A lower-body injury suffered in practice on the eve of the regular season wasn’t the way he wanted to start it out.

“It was literally the day before the first game, which was unfortunate,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “I was getting geared up and excited to get the season going, and I had that setback.

“It’s not fun to start the season, especially missing games, but it’s been a lot of fun to watch the boys. I’m sure if I’m not playing the right way or doing stuff wrong, I’ll hear about it. That’s a good thing and I’m excited.”

Nugent-Hopkins was slotted in as the second-line centre during training camp, and was back there again Thursday, which allowed Colton Dach to move back down to his regular spot centering the fourth line, while newcomer Filip Hallander — traded for Spencer Stastney by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 7 — was listed as a healthy scratch for Thursday’s game.

Of course, after having spent the past few seasons playing on Connor McDavid’s left wing on the top line, it could be viewed as a bit of a demotion for him this year, but the reality is he is the second centre on the depth chart behind the league’s leading scorer playing in a position formerly held by Leon Draisaitl.

And if that’s not top company, I don’t know what is.

“That’s what he’s been his whole life,” Babcock said of the natural centre. “And we think he’s a real good player with real good intelligence.

“I’ll just watch over time and see if that becomes a real good line like I expect.”

Nugent-Hopkins is being reunited on the second line with fellow former top-line winger Zach Hyman, as well as Kasperi Kapanen, who was the Oilers’ top point producer in last year’s playoffs, scoring four goals and two assists in six games.

“It’s awesome. You always know what you’re going to get. He’s consistent, steady at both ends of the ice,” Hyman said. “It’s fun to play with him, he’s got a lot of chemistry. We’ve played together for a long time now, so I’m excited that he’s back.”

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.