The Edmonton Oilers believe in their core group of forwards and are going to give them a long opportunity to grow some success. With Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall already penned to long-term deals, next up was Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and it turned out to be a slam dunk to get the deal done.On Thursday, Nugent-Hopkins signed a 7-year deal, worth $42 million, which works out to be a $6 million cap hit per season. The same cap hit number that his two core counterparts will earn as well. That will make the team's top three forwards, all making the same money and give the team some financial continuity.
Nugent-Hopkins is on the final year of his entry-level deal and the Oilers had seen more than enough to warrant a large extension, foregoing the popular bridge deals that have been handed out to most of the restricted free agents this Summer, before they start earning their long-term, big money deals.
Last season, Nugent-Hopkins scored 4 goals and added 20 assists in 40 games, down from his 52-point rookie season. The Oilers believe that he will be one of the elite players in the NHL and feel that the $6 million cap hit will likely be a bargain, once he hits his stride.
My projection for him this season is 50 points, which is low, but starting the year with shoulder problems and now on the verge of being on my injury-prone list, makes me weary about giving him anything higher, so I wouldn't be comfortable picking him at a level that's higher than other 50-point players.
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