SEATTLE — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a front-row season for nearly half of Sam Gagner’s NHL career, so was delighted to see his former teammate hit a major milestone Thursday in Winnipeg.
Gagner, now a member of the Winnipeg Jets, suited up for his 1,000th game in a 4-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks.
“It’s definitely awesome to see him get there,” Nugent-Hopkins said Friday prior to facing the Seattle Kraken here at the Climate Pledge Arena. “I think you play with him long enough that you kind of figured he was going to get there the way that he works and what he puts into the game. He’s passionate and he works hard. It’s a tough accomplishment to get to, but I’m definitely happy for him and it was cool to see he got to enjoy it with his family and we get to see him tomorrow night, so it’ll be fun to play against him.
“I had two different stints with him and I lived with him my second year in the league, so I’m definitely excited for him. It’s a huge accomplishment and it’s not easy to do.”
Gagner, 33, was selected by the Oilers sixth overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He played seven seasons with the Oilers before moving on to play with the Arizona Coyotes.
Gagner returned to the Oilers during the 2018-19 season and was traded the following year to the Detroit Red Wings. He played the last two seasons in Detroit before signing with the Jets this year.
“He definitely was a mentor to me when I first got here,” said Nugent-Hopkins, the first overall pick in 2011. “I learned a lot from him. He was still young at that point, but he was a mentor, I looked up to him and he’d been through a very similar situation to what I was going through. He came in when he was 18, so I kind of looked up to him and learned a lot from him. Obviously, you’re friends, but you can learn a lot from him.”
Gagner had to work his way back into the league after being demoted to the AHL during his time with the Philadelphia Flyers. He played nine games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and also spent time with the Toronto Marlies and Bakersfield Condors.
“It’s very impressive, I know a lot of guys would get into a situation like that, get discouraged and take a step back maybe,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “But he’s not that kind of guy; he wanted a chance to prove himself and when he got that opportunity again, he obviously made the most of it. It’s great to see. He’s a hard-working guy, definitely dedicated to the game, so it’s exciting to see how many more he can get.”
Gagner’s best moment with the Oilers came when he collected eight points in a 8-4 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 2, 2012. Gagner had four goals and four assists in the contest and was named, first, second and third star.
“I was not playing, I was injured, but we were up in the booth watching,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “I think he was at like five points, and were going to head down to the room and he got two more when we were on our way down and then he got another one when we were watching it on the TV in the room.
“It was pretty unbelievable. It was night he’ll never forget and whoever was there they’ll never forget either.”
Reaching 1,000 regular-season games is a major milestone for any player. With an 82-game season, it takes well over a decade to get there, not considering injuries. Nugent-Hopkins is playing his 756th game on Friday.
“I definitely think there is something about the 1,000th game that makes it extra special,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “It just really solidifies how long you’ve been in the league, how many games you’ve played. Just getting to 500 is a tone of games and then doing it again, it’s unbelievable that some of these guys have played 1,200, 1,3000, 1,400 games. It’s hard to do and not only do you have to have the longevity physically, but mentally you have to stick with it. I think there is something about that 1,000-game mark that is very impressive to hit.”
LEGENDARY LOSS
The sports world sustained a massive loss Thursday with the death of soccer icon Pele.
The 82-year-old had been battling colon cancer and had been hospitalized since late November.
Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, he was the most famous sports personality ever, winning three FIFA World Cup with Brazil.
“He was a little bit before my time, but he was one of those icons like Diego Maradona, who are probably the two biggest names in sports, who unfortunately both passed away,” said Oilers forward Mattias Janmark. “Once they pass away, it really gives you an idea of how big they really are.”
Pele was considered the world’s first true global icon, leading Brazil to the 1958 World Cup title in Sweden as a 17-year-old. He was the most recognizable person on the planet and even those who never saw him play understood his impact on not only soccer, but sport itself.
Due to being hospitalized, Pele did not attend the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but his presence was felt everywhere with well wishes draped on banners throughout the city and in bright lights on the side of massive skyscrapers in Doha.
“It’s just one of those names you hear about all the time talking about football,” Janmark said. “I don’t have any specific memory of him, but that name and icon was always there.”
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