Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Injury is Devastating for Edmonton
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Injury is Devastating Blow for Edmonton Oilers
Announced following Monday’s game, the Ryan Nugent-Hopkins injury is expected to keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks. He sustained a broken hand while attempting to block a shot from Florida defenseman Dmitry Kulikov during the second period of an eventual 4-2 Edmonton win.
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via NHL.com,
Nugent-Hopkins, the first pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, has eight goals and 22 assists in 46 games.
“He’s a key player for us and a big-time player for our team,” center Leon Draisaitl said. “Obviously now it’s time for other guys to step up and kind of pick that up. He did everything — he kills penalties, plays on the power play, he produces offensively, takes faceoffs … all-around player. It’s going to hurt but we have the skill and the players to replace him.”
Leon Draisaitl isn’t wrong. Other guys will need to step up in RNH’s absence. In one sense, Edmonton solved an upcoming controversy. Upon Connor McDavid‘s return, there was expected to be a log-jam up the middle with RNH, Leon Draisaitl, and Connor McDavid. Rumors continue to suggest Edmonton would move a top forward to address defensive needs. With the season Draisaitl is having since being called-up, it was beginning to look like Nugent-Hopkins would be the odd man out. The long-term injury to RNH gives Edmonton an opportunity to hold on to him until the summer, and work out a deal at that time (if necessary). A deal prior to the NHL draft makes the most sense.
On the flip side, the injury may also effect Edmonton in the standings, who were expecting a stronger second half with a healthy squad. Whether it’s been Jordan Eberle, Connor McDavid, or Ryan Nugent Hopkins, the Oilers have been unable to dress a fully healthy top six in 2015-16. Already hovering in the basement of the Western Conference, NHL fans are starting to fear the Oilers could land yet another first overall pick in the NHL Draft Lottery. Loaded with talent, the Edmonton Oilers are having terrible luck in keeping their stars off the IR over the past few years. If Edmonton somehow walks away with another high-end draft pick, expect major changes to the NHL draft lottery system.
The Ryan Nugent-Hopkins injury isn’t only devastating for Edmonton, but for the game of hockey in general.
It’s the recent shot-blocking phenomena that is to blame. Obviously the art of shot-blocking has always existed, and some coaches would give more focus to it than others. Now correct me if this is wrong, but it feels as though the turning point where shot-blocking went from a skill to a requirement/expectation, was John Tortorella’s time behind the bench with the New York Rangers. It didn’t matter who you were, 1st or 4th line forward, he expected his guys to play at both ends of the rink. If a player didn’t, they’d sit on the bench. The Rangers were studs defensively, and other NHL teams seemed to catch on, making players more accountable in the defensive zone.
Players don’t need to stop blocking shots, but they do need to be smarter about it. The average NHLer is stronger nowadays, and sticks have much better technology, making for harder average shots. These guys cannot afford to put themselves in vulnerable positions.
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In the case of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, it’s more accidental than leaving himself vulnerable. Those accidents occur in hockey, and there’s little we can do to fix that. It doesn’t mean it was unavoidable though. RNH was slightly turned with his hands tucked in relatively close, leaving his hands, ankle, and boot of his skate exposed to potential harm.
When bearing down on a defender, it’s better to take a more direct straight route, lock those skates and shin pads together, with the stick out to the side blocking a potential passing lane.
If you’re coming across east to west to attempt a sliding shot-block on a defenseman from the point – it’s better to use the non-stick hand to cover the jock area, while using the other for stick checking if there’s a delayed shot (you do that so you don’t take a puck in the throat).
Seems like common sense, but in the fast paced environment of hockey, bad decisions can be made when you’ve got split-seconds to decide. The solution is fairly simple though. Either teach players how to properly block shots, and limit their vulnerabilities to injury (since injuries can still occur). Or, the NHL’s top six forwards block limited to no shots.
What good is shot-blocking and structure if it means boring trap-like hockey that only seems to lead to less goals, less excitement, and injuries? Whatever happened to the time when goaltenders preferred to see the puck, opposed to having their own player attempt to block it, or worse, tip it? The NHL obviously cannot go to the extreme, which would be eliminating shot-blocking.
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This isn’t an issue the league itself can fix. It’s up to the coaches and the players. Coaches needs to put less emphasis on shot-blocking, or educate its players on the art of shot-blocking. The players themselves need to better recognize quality shot-blocking opportunities. The only time players should be sacrificing themselves at all costs (like they seem to do now) are crucial moments at the end of games, or playoff-time. Having guys sacrificing themselves in a nothing regular season game as if they’re trying to save two points in the dying seconds is appalling.