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Initially, Nugent-Hopkins was strictly an offensive player, at times playing on each of the Oilers' two power-play units.
"I think, like with any young kid coming out of junior, your game evolves a little bit. Mine has done so and I'm comfortable with the position that I'm in," Nugent-Hopkins said Tuesday. "I want to be a good two-way player, but that also includes producing offensively. Last series, we had a lot of chances, we had a lot of opportunities and some good O-zone time, but at the same time, we didn't find a way to capitalize.
"In this series we need to find a way to keep doing that and bear down. At the same time, we have to make sure we're not giving up anything defensively."
Though Nugent-Hopkins did not have a point in the Oilers' six-game win against the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference First Round, he played an important defensive role. His line, with left wing Milan Lucic and right wing Jordan Eberle, was matched up against San Jose's top offensive players and did an excellent job limiting them. The Sharks scored four goals in their four losses to Edmonton.
"He's been great, honestly," captain Connor McDavid said. "I know people get on him about not being more offensive, but he's still a great offensive player. He's put up good numbers [in the past] and always has that threat of breaking out any time. In terms of his defensive play, he's been so good, he's responsible, he's getting better on his draws, his PK has been very good as well. He's definitely a great asset for us."
Nugent-Hopkins said his game began to evolve in his third season with the Oilers, when he was utilized in more defensive situations.
"Things started to change," he said. "I wasn't penalty-killing in junior [with Red Deer of the Western Hockey League], it was mostly offensive. I wouldn't say my game was an all-around, two-way game yet. But for me to be successful in this league, I know that I need to keep working on that and be a good two-way guy, and that's kind of the role I see myself going towards in the future too. I'm going to keep working on that."