The Edmonton Oilers appear to be close to announcing a brand new deal for pending UFA and 2011 1st-overall draft pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Per TSN's Ryan Rishaug, Nugent-Hopkins' new deal will be max-term and will carry a $5.125M AAV, down from the $6M AAV that the 28-year-old received in each of his last 7 seasons. The new deal will be worth $41M in total.
Nugent-Hopkins took a large discount here to remain an Edmonton Oiler and this contract really does help give the Oilers some breathing room and the ability to allocate those savings elsewhere to help achieve balance in the lineup.
RNH recorded 35 points in 52 games with the Oilers last season after registering 61 points in 65 games just one year prior. That brings his point totals up to 96 points in 117 games throughout the pandemic. He also amassed 10 points in his last 8 playoff games.
This is a huge win for the Edmonton Oilers and RNH is happy to be locked up long-term, remaining a key piece in Edmonton's core for the foreseeable future.
