BREAKING: Oilers Forced to React to Nugent-Hopkins Troubling Trend
For Bailey Ober, a long-term deal offers more than just financial security—it’s a career milestone. As a late bloomer and a 12th-round draft pick who didn’t receive a significant signing bonus, the stability of a guaranteed multi-million-dollar contract would be life-changing.
For the Twins, such a move demonstrates strategic foresight and a commitment to sustained competitiveness. In today’s game, where strong pitching is the foundation of any postseason contender, extending Ober ensures the team remains well-positioned to compete within its current window and beyond.
Ober’s consistent production, unique skill set, and ability to deliver quality innings make him an essential part of the Twins’ future. Rewarding him with a contract extension now would send a powerful message: the Minnesota Twins are serious about building and maintaining a winning team for the long term.
Should the Twins offer Ober an extension? What terms would make sense for both sides? Leave your thoughts in the COMMENTS to join the discussion!
At 30-plus, his performance has dipped noticeably, particularly in shifts without McDavid. Father Time isn’t waiting around, putting him on a three-month probation to reclaim his form. Failure to do so could see him facing a similar fate to teammate Jeff Skinner, whose struggles have set a precedent.
The crux of the argument is that if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins doesn’t elevate his play and regain his production, he risks facing a similar trajectory as Jeff Skinner. Despite Skinner’s track record of offensive contributions, particularly on the power play and in critical situations, head coach Kris Knoblauch has been reluctant to rely on him in those moments. Nugent-Hopkins may find himself in a comparable position if he doesn’t turn things around soon.
It’s Been a Slower Couple of Seasons for Nugent-Hopkins
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is currently struggling offensively, with a pace for just 12 goals and 41 points this season. This marks a noticeable decline compared to his 104-point performance in 2022-23, and a drop from 67 points in the regular season of 2023-24. While he showed glimpses of top-level production during a good playoff run last season (22 points in 25 games), his struggles have resurfaced this year.
Even more concerning is Nugent-Hopkins’ frequent linemates—elite talents like Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, and Evan Bouchard—highlighting that his offensive slump is occurring despite playing with some of the best players in the league. Now in his 14th NHL season and nearing 1,000 career games including playoffs, Nugent-Hopkins’ shot totals have also declined significantly, averaging just 2.1 shots per game, the lowest since he was 22 years old.
What Does This Mean for the Oilers?
Some argue that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ struggles aren’t necessarily about age or decline but rather circumstances. The Edmonton power play, once a record-setting unit, isn’t performing as it used to, which could partially explain Nugent-Hopkins’ drop in offensive production. With just four assists and no goals on the man advantage this season, his historically strong reliance on power-play production has become a significant issue.
The solution could involve moving Nugent-Hopkins off the power play. While he remains valuable for his versatility and modest cap hit, at 30, he’s underperforming to the point where the Oilers need to reassess his deployment. Pidutti argues that his consistency has always been a concern, but this season feels different, highlighting the urgency for the Oilers to reconsider how he’s used.
Trading Nugent-Hopkins seems unlikely due to his team-friendly deal, especially in an era where the salary cap is rising. However, if his production continues to lag, financial concerns may force the Oilers to revisit conversations about his role. How could they not?