NHL 5 questions: The return of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Ryan Callahan
A daily feature which asks the five biggest questions about today’s NHL action. Will they be answered? (That doesn’t count as one of the five questions.)
Nugent-Hopkins was projected to miss the first month of the season after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. Turns out he’ll only miss the first week. Whether Nugent-Hopkins is ready to return remains to be seen, but hopefully we’ll have a better understanding after Monday night.
2. How will Dallas Eakins utilize Taylor Hall?
With Nugent-Hopkins and Sam Gagner out due to injury, Eakins decided to move Hall to center. Now that Nugent-Hopkins is back, will Eakins reunite the trio of RNH, Hall and Jordan Eberle? Will Hall take any shifts at center?
3. Will Jaromir Jagr and Patrick Elias do anything of note?
New Jersey Devils coach Peter DeBoer is planning on pairing Elias and Jagr against the Oilers. He's hoping they can generate some offense, via NewJersey.com:
“We have Elias back with Jagr tonight. I’m hoping those two can get some chemistry. They should be able to have some,” DeBoer explained.
Will the two veterans generate any offense with Dainius Zubrus?
4. How will Ryan Callahan perform in his return?
Callahan also underwent offseason shoulder surgery and, like Nugent-Hopkins, will return against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night. How will captain Callahan perform?
5. Will we have a goaltender duel in Los Angeles?
With the Kings playing the Rangers, we have the potential for two of the games top goaltenders, Henrik Lundqvist and Jonathan Quick, to meet in a goaltender battle. In the event that both players start, will we have a duel of epic proportions?
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