Loyalty, Grit & 1,000 Games: Oilers' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Every once in a while, it’s worth slowing down and giving a little love to the players who never ask for it. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (RNH) is one of those guys. He just hit the 1,000-game mark, all in an Edmonton Oilers sweater, and somehow he’s still one of the most underrated players this team has ever had.
Nugent-Hopkins Played 1,000 Games — All with One Team.
In today’s NHL, staying in one spot for that long is rare. Players move, teams churn through rosters, and “loyalty” has become more of a slogan than a reality. Yet here’s Nuge — the only Oiler to play 1,000 games entirely with Edmonton — outlasting GMs, coaches, rebuilds, and whatever else this franchise has thrown at him.
He didn’t come during the team’s peak years, either. He walked right into the lean years, when the team struggled to find its footing. Plenty of players in his spot would have looked around and thought, “You know what? I’ve had enough.” But Nuge stayed. And that says something real about him — patience, pride, maybe even a stubborn belief that this team could eventually turn a corner.
Why RNH Stayed with the Oilers and What Young Players Should Notice.
People sometimes wonder why he never pushed for a trade or demanded a bigger spotlight. Honestly? I think he likes the role he has here. He doesn’t need the stage that Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl share; he’s comfortable being the guy who fills in the gaps, does the little things, and makes the room steadier just by being in it.
For any young Oiler, watching how he carries himself is a lesson in professionalism. No drama, no need to shout for attention — just show up, work, earn respect, repeat. It’s not flashy, but it’s the kind of approach that builds long careers and strong locker rooms.
Nugent-Hopkins Is Still Producing, Still Reliable
And he’s not just sticking around — he’s still helping the team win. He’s on a four-game point streak, and with 13 goals and 44 points this season, he’s once again proving he can contribute in whatever way the team needs.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins may never dominate the headlines, but the Oilers wouldn’t be the same without him. Here’s to 1,000 games of steady, honest work — and hopefully a few hundred more. He’s earned every bit of appreciation that comes his way, and it’s time we celebrated him for it.