Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oilers agree on eight-year, $41 million deal
Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins won't be hitting unrestricted free agency, after all.
Ryan Rishaug of TSN reported Tuesday that Nugent-Hopkins will remain with Edmonton on an eight-year contract worth $41 million. The deal includes a no-movement clause and, per Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, a $5.125 million salary-cap hit. Previously, the 28-year-old was on an agreement worth $6 million annually across seven years.
The Oilers confirmed the news later in the day.
The Oilers selected Nugent-Hopkins first overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, and he hasn't played for any other franchise since. He recorded 16 goals and 19 assists across 52 regular-season contests in 2020-21 but tallied only one goal and one assist through a disappointing postseason run for the Oilers.
The Winnipeg Jets swept the Oilers in the opening round of the playoffs.
Daniel Nugent-Bowman and Allan Mitchell explained for The Athletic that Nugent-Hopkins likely "wants to win in Edmonton, to finish what he started a decade ago under the most challenging of circumstances" when the Oilers were in the middle of what became a lengthy playoff drought.
More must-reads: