EDMONTON, Alberta — If the Edmonton Oilers were to describe Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with a single term, “Swiss Army knife” might be the most fitting, perfectly capturing his multifaceted role on the team.
This isn`t just casual observation; it`s a label cemented by none other than team captain and arguably the league`s top player, Connor McDavid. His assessment, delivered after the Oilers` commanding 6-1 win over the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, resonated widely among those following Edmonton`s postseason journey.
“He`s our Swiss Army knife,” McDavid stated, highlighting Nugent-Hopkins` impact. “And he`s playing incredibly well. Just consistently solid in all aspects, making plays, performing his role. He`s expected to do everything every single game, and he`s playing great.”
Evander Kane, who frequently shares a line with Nugent-Hopkins, can`t help but grin when discussing his teammate`s performance. He heard McDavid`s comment and fully endorses how well it applies to Nugent-Hopkins` dominance throughout the playoffs so far.
“I`ve heard it everywhere probably in the last 24 hours, the term `Swiss Army knife`,” Kane remarked on Monday. “So I`ll just repeat it. [Nugent-Hopkins] is a player with tremendous versatility. He has great vision, possesses composure to execute plays. He`s having a truly excellent playoffs. His Western Conference finals series has been even better. If we can continue to see that level of play from him, it obviously benefits our team immensely.”
Nugent-Hopkins` recent displays have pushed him further into the spotlight, even on a team loaded with stars. The longest-serving Oiler was at his absolute best in Sunday`s Game 3, notching three assists with impressive playmaking, including a memorable give-and-go sequence with McDavid early in the game.
The veteran forward boasts two goals and seven points in the conference finals and a total of five goals and 16 points in 14 playoff games this season, ranking him fourth on the team in scoring. Nugent-Hopkins` formidable series performance places him in elite company, joining Wayne Gretzky as only the second player in franchise history to record multiple points in each of the first three games of an NHL conference final or semifinal.
That`s remarkable output for a player who would be excused for being exhausted. Nugent-Hopkins embodies the classic overachiever, consistently capable and willing to take on nearly any role imaginable, short of strapping on the goalie pads.
He has skated as a top-line winger alongside McDavid. He`s been a shutdown center on the second line with Kane. He`s a constant presence on the Oilers` primary power-play unit. And he`s an absolutely essential penalty killer.
In essence, Nugent-Hopkins is the player every coach dreams of having – a fact coach Kris Knobloch has openly acknowledged.
“Leon [Draisaitl] joked last year he`s my favorite player,” Knobloch said about Nugent-Hopkins. “But anytime you have a player who can contribute in so many ways, as a coach, you`re incredibly thankful. You value players with that kind of flexibility, who you can deploy in various situations.
“He always performs exceptionally well. You saw it in the third period [of Game 3]; he was playing with Kane and [Zach] Hyman. They formed an effective line, and that starts with the center.”
FORTUNATELY, THOSE AROUND Nugent-Hopkins are quick to praise him because he himself is modest about the significant influence he`s having on the Oilers` postseason success. Any accolades don`t seem to go to his head.
“I think we`re all just doing our part and trying to contribute where we can,” Nugent-Hopkins said when asked about his impact. “Our line managed a couple [on Sunday], and it feels good to capitalize on opportunities and see them convert.”
The current success enjoyed by Nugent-Hopkins and the Oilers has been a long time in the making, requiring the veteran to navigate through notoriously difficult periods. Drafted first overall by Edmonton in 2011, Nugent-Hopkins endured lean years where the team made the playoffs just once in his first eight seasons. Following that, Edmonton saw first-round exits in 2020 and 2021.
However, the Oilers` fortunes improved, culminating in a run to the Stanley Cup Final last season, where they ultimately fell just short in Game 7 against Florida. Nugent-Hopkins was a key part of that run, registering seven goals and 22 points. The team is aiming to replicate that success as they hold a 2-1 series lead over Dallas heading into Tuesday`s Game 4.
While Nugent-Hopkins has remained a consistent presence through the team`s ups and downs, his current peak performance at age 32 is no surprise to those who have witnessed his growth over the years.
“I`ve always been a huge fan,” said Stuart Skinner, who joined the Oilers in the 2020-21 season. “He`s consistently been a strong two-way player across all areas of the ice. He`s simply that type of individual. That`s why he`s such an incredibly important part of our team and the organization.”
Consider how Nugent-Hopkins helped turn a recent Oilers weakness into a strength. In Game 1 against Dallas, Edmonton seemed in control until a disastrous third period saw the Stars score three power-play goals in under six minutes, leading to a comeback victory. Nugent-Hopkins was on the ice for only one of those goals against, but since then, he`s been instrumental in stabilizing the Oilers` penalty kill, which has successfully killed off all four Dallas power plays.
“It`s a lot of the same principles,” Nugent-Hopkins said regarding getting the penalty kill back on track. “Staying focused, staying confident. Obviously, they hurt us there, costing us the first game; we were determined to respond, and I believe we`ve done a good job since then.”
Only Nugent-Hopkins truly understands how he balances all the diverse roles and responsibilities without sacrificing quality in any area. That`s the unique quality of a Swiss Army knife – its simple exterior belies the numerous functions contained within. And in Nugent-Hopkins` case, those capabilities range from dazzling on-ice plays to the less visible, but equally important, contributions behind the scenes.
That`s where a significant part of his value lies.
“He`s a leader in the room,” Skinner added. “The dedication he shows every day, what he communicates to the team, and the fact he does it all with immense composure is truly impressive.”
