Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has found a home as the third-line centre of the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/combinations">Edmonton Oilers</a>. 

In years past, Nugent-Hopkins played alongside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman, forming one of the most dominant lines in the spot. The line has still found success this season during five-on-five action, as they have a 55.56% goal share (GF%) and a 60.04% expected goal share (xGF%)<a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20242025&amp;thruseason=20242025&amp;stype=2&amp;sit=5v5&amp;score=all&amp;rate=n&amp;team=EDM&amp;vteam=ALL&amp;view=wowy&amp;loc=B&amp;gpfilt=none&amp;fd=2024-10-04&amp;td=2025-04-17&amp;tgp=2000&amp;strict=incl&amp;p1=8478402&amp;p2=8476454&amp;p3=8475786&amp;p4=0&amp;p5=0"> according to Natural Stat Trick</a>.
However, the Oilers have recently tweaked their lines, allowing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to anchor the third line with Vasily Podkolzin and Viktor Arvidsson as his wingers. In 15:03 minutes together during five-on-five action, the trio has outscored the opposition 3-0 with a 52.49 xGF% in that stretch.
What’s more important, though, is it has breathed new life into all three of their seasons. Let’s look at how the three players have performed over the last two games. A small sample size, but an encouraging one nonetheless.
<h2>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</h2>
Coming into Sunday’s game against the New York Rangers, Nugent-Hopkins had 16 goals and 39 points in 65 games. Relative to the season before, he had an equal number of goals but far fewer assists as he had 58 points by Game No. 65 last season.
Well, head coach Kris Knoblauch put him with Arvidsson and Podkolzin and he responded well. In the first period of that game, Nugent-Hopkins shot on the power play was saved but Corey Perry pounced on the rebound for the 1-0 lead. Fast forward to the third period of the same game, and Nugent-Hopkins had a give-and-go with Arvidsson, with the winger ripping it over Igor Shesterkin’s glove.
Nugent-Hopkins chipped the puck off the wall to Connor McDavid and the game’s best player did the rest for the insurance goal with under three and a half minutes left. In this game, Nugent-Hopkins picked up the primary assist on all three of the goals.
Two days later, the Oilers <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/ryan-nugent-hopkins-zach-hyman-scores-calvin-pickard-edmonton-oilers-7-1-win-utah-hockey-club">thumped the Utah Hockey Club</a>. Nugent-Hopkins opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal. On the power play, he found Zach Hyman in front of the net for an easy tap-in and another primary assist. In the second period, he dropped it to one of his new wingers for his fifth primary assist in the past two games.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
NUGENT-HOPKINS ON THE PK, IT&#39;S 1-0 OILERS TO START THIS HOCKEY GAME 🛢️
📹: Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/UWCB6r04RE">pic.twitter.com/UWCB6r04RE</a>
&mdash; Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1902170910993609114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Nugent-Hopkins has been driving the play incredibly well but his wingers have also benefited from his strong play.
<h2>Vasily Podkolzin</h2>
Coming into Tuesday’s game, Vasily Podkolzin’s last goal came on Jan. 15, over two months before. While he still does all the little stuff right, i.e. winning puck battles and leading the team in hits. Still, you’d prefer he scored more, especially as he’s spent a lot of his time alongside Leon Draisaitl.
Well, Nugent-Hopkins dropped the puck to Podkolzin in the second period against the Hockey Club, with the Russian winger zipping it by the netminder for his first goal in two months. By dropping Podkolzin to the third line, they can use him in a role that suits him better, especially when Trent Frederic and Evander Kane return to the lineup.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
You love to see this from Vasily Podkolzin, his first goal in 24 games!
The Oilers now have a 5-0 lead over Utah in the second period.
📹: Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/5RJTSbaaFj">pic.twitter.com/5RJTSbaaFj</a>
&mdash; Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1902184795653992743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2>Viktor Arvidsson</h2>
Admittedly, I’m a little higher on Viktor Arvidsson than most. To me, he’s a player who’ll elevate his game in the post-season and if the past two games are any indication, he’s on track to do just that.
On Sunday, he snapped the game-winning goal over the Rangers’ glove, a hugely important goal for him and the Oilers. <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-edmonton-oilers-beat-utah-hockey-club-7-1">Against the Utah Hockey Club</a>, he won a puck battle in front of the netminder and swatted it past him for his 10th goal of the season. Moreover, this was the second time Arvidsson has scored back-to-back goals this season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
MAKE IT SEVEN! Viktor Arvidsson adds to the lead for the Oilers!
📹: Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/HN6lXnNZ7v">pic.twitter.com/HN6lXnNZ7v</a>
&mdash; Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1902195391136985175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Adding his goal against the Dallas Stars on Mar. 8, Arvidsson now has three goals in his past six games. Hopefully, he can keep it up.
<h2>What about when the Oilers are fully healthy? </h2>
Without Nugent-Hopkins to play alongside McDavid on the first line and Podkolzin/Arvidsson to play alongside Leon Draisaitl on the second line, what happens to the lines when everyone is healthy?
On Tuesday, Jeff Skinner played with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman on the first line. It was alright, as they outshot and outscored the opposition, even though Skinner didn’t get a point. Honestly, if that line can build chemistry I’m all for it, especially if <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/leon-draisaitl-doubtful-against-jets-as-evander-kane-skates-with-oilers">Evander Kane</a> is out for any significant portion of the post-season.
The second line was comprised of Connor Brown and Corey Perry, who again, has 15 goals. Brown is a fill-in for the time being as once Trent Frederic returns, sign me up for a Frederic/Draisaitl/Perry line.
As you can imagine, the third line is perfect as is with Podkolzin, Nugent-Hopkins, and Arvidsson. Hopefully, they can build on their chemistry and continue to play well into the playoffs. If not, plugging in Kane over Podkolzin on this line is another option.
Lastly, the fourth line should feature Adam Henrique as the centre with a mix of Mattias Janmark, Brown, Max Jones, and Kasperi Kapanen. Personally, I’m still a big fan of the Janmark/Henrique/Brown line, which is a great fourth line.
All of this is to say that the Oilers have a forward core full of depth with many different options they can go down when everyone returns to full health.
<hr />
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has found a home as the third-line centre of the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/combinations">Edmonton Oilers</a>. 



In years past, Nugent-Hopkins played alongside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman, forming one of the most dominant lines in the spot. The line has still found success this season during five-on-five action, as they have a 55.56% goal share (GF%) and a 60.04% expected goal share (xGF%)<a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20242025&amp;thruseason=20242025&amp;stype=2&amp;sit=5v5&amp;score=all&amp;rate=n&amp;team=EDM&amp;vteam=ALL&amp;view=wowy&amp;loc=B&amp;gpfilt=none&amp;fd=2024-10-04&amp;td=2025-04-17&amp;tgp=2000&amp;strict=incl&amp;p1=8478402&amp;p2=8476454&amp;p3=8475786&amp;p4=0&amp;p5=0"> according to Natural Stat Trick</a>.

However, the Oilers have recently tweaked their lines, allowing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to anchor the third line with Vasily Podkolzin and Viktor Arvidsson as his wingers. In 15:03 minutes together during five-on-five action, the trio has outscored the opposition 3-0 with a 52.49 xGF% in that stretch.

What’s more important, though, is it has breathed new life into all three of their seasons. Let’s look at how the three players have performed over the last two games. A small sample size, but an encouraging one nonetheless.
<h2>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</h2>
Coming into Sunday’s game against the New York Rangers, Nugent-Hopkins had 16 goals and 39 points in 65 games. Relative to the season before, he had an equal number of goals but far fewer assists as he had 58 points by Game No. 65 last season.

Well, head coach Kris Knoblauch put him with Arvidsson and Podkolzin and he responded well. In the first period of that game, Nugent-Hopkins shot on the power play was saved but Corey Perry pounced on the rebound for the 1-0 lead. Fast forward to the third period of the same game, and Nugent-Hopkins had a give-and-go with Arvidsson, with the winger ripping it over Igor Shesterkin’s glove.

Nugent-Hopkins chipped the puck off the wall to Connor McDavid and the game’s best player did the rest for the insurance goal with under three and a half minutes left. In this game, Nugent-Hopkins picked up the primary assist on all three of the goals.

Two days later, the Oilers <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/ryan-nugent-hopkins-zach-hyman-scores-calvin-pickard-edmonton-oilers-7-1-win-utah-hockey-club">thumped the Utah Hockey Club</a>. Nugent-Hopkins opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal. On the power play, he found Zach Hyman in front of the net for an easy tap-in and another primary assist. In the second period, he dropped it to one of his new wingers for his fifth primary assist in the past two games.

https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1902170910993609114

Nugent-Hopkins has been driving the play incredibly well but his wingers have also benefited from his strong play.
<h2>Vasily Podkolzin</h2>
Coming into Tuesday’s game, Vasily Podkolzin’s last goal came on Jan. 15, over two months before. While he still does all the little stuff right, i.e. winning puck battles and leading the team in hits. Still, you’d prefer he scored more, especially as he’s spent a lot of his time alongside Leon Draisaitl.

Well, Nugent-Hopkins dropped the puck to Podkolzin in the second period against the Hockey Club, with the Russian winger zipping it by the netminder for his first goal in two months. By dropping Podkolzin to the third line, they can use him in a role that suits him better, especially when Trent Frederic and Evander Kane return to the lineup.

https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1902184795653992743
<h2>Viktor Arvidsson</h2>
Admittedly, I’m a little higher on Viktor Arvidsson than most. To me, he’s a player who’ll elevate his game in the post-season and if the past two games are any indication, he’s on track to do just that.

On Sunday, he snapped the game-winning goal over the Rangers’ glove, a hugely important goal for him and the Oilers. <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-edmonton-oilers-beat-utah-hockey-club-7-1">Against the Utah Hockey Club</a>, he won a puck battle in front of the netminder and swatted it past him for his 10th goal of the season. Moreover, this was the second time Arvidsson has scored back-to-back goals this season.

https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1902195391136985175

Adding his goal against the Dallas Stars on Mar. 8, Arvidsson now has three goals in his past six games. Hopefully, he can keep it up.
<h2>What about when the Oilers are fully healthy? </h2>
Without Nugent-Hopkins to play alongside McDavid on the first line and Podkolzin/Arvidsson to play alongside Leon Draisaitl on the second line, what happens to the lines when everyone is healthy?

On Tuesday, Jeff Skinner played with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman on the first line. It was alright, as they outshot and outscored the opposition, even though Skinner didn’t get a point. Honestly, if that line can build chemistry I’m all for it, especially if <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/leon-draisaitl-doubtful-against-jets-as-evander-kane-skates-with-oilers">Evander Kane</a> is out for any significant portion of the post-season.

The second line was comprised of Connor Brown and Corey Perry, who again, has 15 goals. Brown is a fill-in for the time being as once Trent Frederic returns, sign me up for a Frederic/Draisaitl/Perry line.

As you can imagine, the third line is perfect as is with Podkolzin, Nugent-Hopkins, and Arvidsson. Hopefully, they can build on their chemistry and continue to play well into the playoffs. If not, plugging in Kane over Podkolzin on this line is another option.

Lastly, the fourth line should feature Adam Henrique as the centre with a mix of Mattias Janmark, Brown, Max Jones, and Kasperi Kapanen. Personally, I’m still a big fan of the Janmark/Henrique/Brown line, which is a great fourth line.

All of this is to say that the Oilers have a forward core full of depth with many different options they can go down when everyone returns to full health.

<hr />

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Recent articles from Ryley Delaney

Breaking News