SIGNED: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Signs Eight Year Extension

Overall: yes. I think this is just dandy. Depending on how the NMC finalizes (we’ll update later today when it gets out there), but I think this is a fine deal for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the Edmonton Oilers. I’m not too good with numbers, but this looks like about 5.125MM AAV for eight years. Nugent-Hopkins get an eighth year out of the deal, the OIlers get a very manageable cap number for a player that can play two different positions.

Recently, I had predicted a 6x6 deal. Everyone ought to be happy with the AAV even if they don’t love the term. Nugent-Hopkins could easily find himself on the top line in 2021-22 along with Connor McDavid and Jesse Puljujarvi again, he could find himself at second line centre if the Oilers bring in another winger this offseason.

Nugent-Hopkins has played 656 career games with the Oilers since being drafted first overall in 2011. He finished with 35 points in 52 games this last season, placing him fifth on the team in scoring. He needs 22 points to hit 500 in his career, a number he will hit in 2021-22 barring injury.

It’s a good deal, and though I wish it would have waited until the expansion draft had passed, that’s just not how it’s going to work out. There was always the chance that the Kraken could have busted out some 7x7 deal to land a top centre in Nugent-Hopkins, we won’t have to worry about that now.

Good deal, onto the next order of business.