Great Edmonton Oilers fan favourite Ryan Jones joined Oilersnation Everyday on Friday. Jones played with Nuge for four seasons, from 2011 to 2014, and watched the first overall pick transition from junior to the NHL at 18 years old.

He believes that in a market like Edmonton, knowledgeable fans can appreciate all the details of his game, as he is set to achieve the 1000-game milestone on Sunday.

“He was a special player from day one, and I think his game has only developed even more as an all-around player, one of the best that’ll probably ever play the game,” said Jones.

“Back then, I think that everybody wanted 100 points out of them. They wanted a second Taylor Hall. They wanted another Jordan Eberle. He just wasn’t that guy. He put up whatever he was putting up 50-60 points, and he was a guy that could take every single face off in your end, and he was a guy that could go out on the penalty kill. And that’s really what makes Nuge who he is.

“He truly is going to exit the game as a top five, maybe three, best all-around player to ever play in the NHL.”

What was Jones’ first impression of Nuge? Who’s this little kid?

“He still looks 120 pounds, and his moustache is terrible.”

But Jones highlights the fact that Nugent-Hopkins’ impact on games is at both ends of the ice, whether he still looks like the scrawny 18-year-old or not.

At just 32-years-old, Nugent-Hopkins will become the only Oiler to ever play his first 1000 games with the franchise. A thousand points isn’t out of the realm for him, either. Before Saturday’s game, Nuge has produced 785 points.

“To look at the guys who have had 1000 points, I would take that pool of players and I would say, how many of those guys you know even saw the ice on a penalty kill? Now, you’re going to eliminate three quarters of those players right away. He’s a special player.

“There’s a reason why when we turn Oilers games on at my house, I tell my boys to watch 93. There’s a reason why when we go and meet up with the guys after the games, when they come in town, outside of 97 – 93 is the guy. He’s walking down the hallway, and he’s got two little Jones boys going ‘Nuge!’ They love him.”

Jones has long retired, but he remains a “die-hard” Oilers fan, following the team closely as they’ve embarked on back-to-back Stanley Cup Final runs. He enjoys seeing them when they come to Minnesota, his home.

“The organization is something that I’m proud to be a part of. Nuge being there is a big factor, because I have had that relationship with him, so I’m constantly pulling for him. But I still know these guys in the locker rooms, the trainers, from equipment trainers to medical trainers, all these guys like, I want them to have success.”

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