Reviewing the previews: How I projected the Edmonton Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman
By Zach Laing
10 months agoWelcome to the reviews of the previews.
Last offseason, I took a look at 29 players who played for the Oilers in the 2021-22 season. I wrote about their season as a whole, and how I projected them for this past 2022-23 season.
Some of those players were under contract for this year. Some needed new deals and walked in free agency, and others were moved in trades.
Let’s take a look back at a couple of those players today.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
What I wrote
Nugent-Hopkins is a player who has a ton of respect from Jay Woodcroft and the Oilers organization as a whole, and is likely destined for a support role in the middle-six. He’ll continue to see tons of time on the powerplay, and likely on the penalty kill, as well.
What happened
Ding ding ding. Nugent-Hopkins continued to play a support role in the Oilers’ middle-six and had a career year. He was electric on the powerplay and strong on the penalty kill, but like Hyman, had a suspect playoffs.
Leon Draisaitl
What I wrote
Leon Draisaitl will continue to produce offence at one of the best clips in the league, and I’m curious to see how — and who with — he is deployed this season. I’ll be writing tomorrow about how Yamamoto isn’t the ideal linemate for him.
What happened
His most common linemates at 5×5 this year were: Zach Hyman, Connor McDavid, Kailer Yamamoto, Evander Kane and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He produced offence at the second-best clip in the league with 1.6 points per game. 52 goals, 128 points, 80 games. Not bad.
Connor McDavid
What I wrote
McDavid’s in line for another tremendous offensive season and a full year with Jay Woodcroft behind the bench and Evander Kane at his side, it really isn’t out of the question for him to score 140, or maybe even 150 points.
What happened
Heh. Was pretty much spot on here with McDavid as he exploded this year for 64 goals and 153 points in 82 games. What a season it was for him.
Zach Hyman
What I wrote
Hyman is going to have another great season coming up here and I can’t wait to see how Jay Woodcroft chooses to utilize him. A 35-35—70 season isn’t out of the question for Hyman this season, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see him hit it.
What happened
Hyman scored 36 goals, 47 assists and 83 points this year. My projection on the goals was near spot on, but he racked up some more assists than I expected. A great regular season, but a dubious playoffs.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
Recent articles from Zach Laing
