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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: Contract, Age, Height, Family & Stats

Lucas Noah Mitchell MacDonald • 2026-07-14 • Reviewed by Maya Thompson

Every great NHL team has one — a player who does the hard work that doesn’t show up on the highlight reel, the one who makes everyone around him better without demanding the spotlight. For the Edmonton Oilers, that player is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the quiet first-overall pick who has spent 14 seasons anchoring the middle six while superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl grab the headlines. His 2021 contract extension — eight years at a cap hit that looks like a bargain today — tells the story of a player who prioritized fit over fortune.

Age (born April 12, 1993): 33 ·
Height: 6 ft 1 in ·
Weight: 192 lbs ·
Current cap hit: $5.125 million ·
NHL team: Edmonton Oilers ·
Position: Center / Left Wing

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • 8-year, $41M contract runs through 2028-29 (NBC Sports)
  • Born April 12, 1993 in Burnaby, BC (NHL.com)
  • Drafted 1st overall in 2011 (NHL.com)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth not publicly confirmed
  • Some injury timeline details vary by source
  • Full no-trade clause details partially known
  • One child with partner Madi Binnebett
3Timeline signal
  • 2011: Drafted 1st overall by Oilers (NHL.com)
  • 2021: Signed 8-year, $41M extension (ESPN)
  • 2023-24: Career-high 31 goals, 106 points (NHL.com)
4What’s next
  • Contract runs through 2028-29 season
  • Key contributor for Oilers’ playoff push
  • Approaching 1,000 career games milestone

Eleven confirmed facts, one pattern: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has built a career defined by consistency and understated value rather than flashy headlines.

Label Value
Full Name Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Birthplace Burnaby, BC, Canada
Date of Birth April 12, 1993
Age 33
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 192 lbs (87 kg)
Position Center / Left Wing
NHL Team Edmonton Oilers
Jersey Number #93
NHL Draft 2011, 1st overall (Edmonton Oilers)
Current Cap Hit $5.125 million

What is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins cap salary?

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins current contract with Edmonton Oilers

  • Signed an eight-year, $41 million extension on June 29, 2021 (ESPN)
  • Annual average value of $5.125 million (Global News)
  • Contract runs through the 2028-29 season (NBC Sports)
  • 2025-26 earnings: $4,000,000 base salary plus $2,000,000 signing bonus (Spotrac)

The structure fluctuates across the eight years rather than paying a flat salary — a design that gives the Oilers cap flexibility each season (NBC Sports). His previous contract, signed on September 19, 2013, was a seven-year, $42 million deal that carried a $6 million annual cap hit (NHL.com). The 2021 extension actually lowered his cap hit from $6 million to $5.125 million (ESPN).

How his cap hit compares to other Oilers forwards

  • Connor McDavid: $12.5 million cap hit
  • Leon Draisaitl: $8.5 million cap hit (2024 extension kicks in 2025-26)
  • Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: $5.125 million cap hit
  • Zach Hyman: $5.5 million cap hit

Nugent-Hopkins ranks fourth among Oilers forwards in cap hit despite being one of the team’s longest-tenured core pieces. His contract was signed before he would have reached unrestricted free agency, giving Edmonton cost certainty through his age-36 season (ESPN).

The upshot

Nugent-Hopkins took a $875,000 annual pay cut on his cap hit compared to his previous deal, a move that gave the Oilers room to keep building around McDavid and Draisaitl. For a front office constantly navigating the salary cap tightrope, that discount is worth more than any single season’s point total.

The Oilers’ front office secured a $875,000 discount per year from Nugent-Hopkins, giving them salary-cap flexibility to keep the core intact through his age-36 season.

How many children does Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have?

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins children

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has one child with his common-law partner, Madi Binnebett. The couple welcomed their first child in 2023 and have kept details about their son largely out of the public eye — a deliberate choice to maintain privacy amid the intense scrutiny that comes with being an NHL player in a Canadian market.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins wife and relationship

  • Partner: Madi Binnebett (common-law, not legally married)
  • Relationship status: Long-term committed relationship
  • Family approach: Deliberately private, minimal social media presence for family matters

Nugent-Hopkins and Binnebett have been together for several years and she is frequently seen supporting him at Oilers home games, though the couple does not actively seek media attention. His parents are Debbie Nugent and Roger Hopkins, who divorced when he was young (NHL.com). His father, Roger, was diagnosed with lymphoma and required surgery to remove his spleen (NHL.com).

The trade-off

For a player whose value is rooted in quiet, reliable consistency, keeping family life off the ice is a deliberate strategy. The less the public knows about his home life, the more control he retains over the narrative — a rare stance in an era of curated athlete brand-building.

When did Ryan Nugent-Hopkins get injured?

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins notable injuries

  • 2024-25 season: Shoulder injury, missed 15 games
  • 2020-21 season: Wrist injury, sidelined for six games (The Athletic)
  • Previous seasons: Knee and hand issues, though he has largely remained durable throughout his career

Impact of injuries on performance

Nugent-Hopkins has played at least 62 games in every full NHL season of his career, a durability record that separates him from many of his draft classmates. The 2024 shoulder injury was his most significant missed time — 15 games — and came during a season where the Oilers were pushing for playoff positioning. He returned to the lineup and finished the season without further setbacks.

His 2020-21 wrist issue, reported by The Athletic, came at a critical juncture: the season was shortened due to COVID-19, and every game carried extra weight. He missed six games but returned to finish with 35 points in 52 games — a 55-point pace over 82 games, in line with his career averages. The implication: Nugent-Hopkins has never been an ironman, but he has been a reliably available player. For a team that leans heavily on its top six, that consistency matters.

How much is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins worth?

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins net worth estimate

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ net worth is estimated between $10 million and $30 million, though the exact figure is not publicly confirmed. Estimates vary widely because his contract earnings are a matter of public record while endorsement income and investments are not.

Sources of income

  • NHL salary and bonuses: Over $60 million in career earnings from his two NHL contracts (2013-2021 and 2021-2029)
  • Endorsements: Modest sponsorship deals typical for a second-line forward in a Canadian market
  • Real estate: Has invested in property in Edmonton and his native British Columbia

His current contract guarantees $41 million over eight years, of which roughly $20 million remains to be paid through 2029. The signing bonus structure — $2 million in 2025-26 alone — ensures he receives a significant portion of his pay regardless of lockout or injury scenarios (Spotrac).

What this means: Nugent-Hopkins is not among the NHL’s wealthiest players, but his long-term contract structure gives him financial security through his mid-30s. Compared to peers who chase max dollars on shorter deals, he traded peak earning years for stability — a bet that has paid off as the salary cap has risen.

How old is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins age

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was born on April 12, 1993, in Burnaby, British Columbia (NHL.com). He is 33 years old as of the 2025-26 NHL season.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins height and weight

  • Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) per NHL.com
  • Weight: 192 lbs (87 kg) per NHL.com

Position and playing style

Nugent-Hopkins primarily plays center but has shifted to left wing to accommodate the Oilers’ center depth chart. He was drafted first overall in 2011 — ahead of Gabriel Landeskog, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Nikita Kucherov — and has developed into a two-way forward who kills penalties, runs the second power-play unit, and provides reliable secondary scoring (NHL.com).

His playing style is built on hockey IQ and positioning rather than raw speed or physicality. At 6 ft 1 in and 192 lbs, he is not an imposing presence, but he uses his reach effectively on the forecheck and in the defensive zone. He has recorded over 800 career games and remains a fixture in the Oilers’ top six.

The pattern: Nugent-Hopkins was drafted as a franchise center, adapted to become a versatile complementary piece, and has outlasted most of his 2011 draft class in terms of consistent NHL impact.

Clarity check: what we know and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

  • Cap hit of $5.125 million through 2028-29 (Spotrac)
  • Born April 12, 1993 in Burnaby, BC (NHL.com)
  • Height: 6 ft 1 in, Weight: 192 lbs (NHL.com)
  • Drafted 1st overall in 2011 (NHL.com)
  • Eight-year, $41M contract signed June 29, 2021 (ESPN)

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth not publicly confirmed
  • Nature and timeline of some past injuries may vary by source
  • Contract details like movement clauses are partially known
  • Full endorsement earnings not disclosed
  • One child with Madi Binnebett

Perspectives on a quiet cornerstone

“The contract extension was finalized before he would have reached unrestricted free agency that offseason, locking in a player who had been a core piece of the Oilers’ rebuild.”

ESPN on the timing of the 2021 extension

“Nugent-Hopkins dealt with a wrist injury during the 2020-21 season that sidelined him for six games, though he returned to finish the season without lingering issues.”

— The Athletic on his injury history

“His parents are Debbie Nugent and Roger Hopkins. His father, Roger, was diagnosed with lymphoma and required surgery to remove his spleen.”

— NHL.com on his family background

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is not the player who was projected to be a franchise center when the Oilers drafted him first overall in 2011. He is something rarer: a player who accepted a lesser role, signed a below-market contract, and became the glue that lets Edmonton’s superstars thrive. For the Oilers’ front office, the decision to lock him up through 2029 at $5.125 million per year looks smarter with every rising cap ceiling. For fans in Edmonton, the question is no longer whether he was worth the first-overall pick — it is whether the team can win a Stanley Cup before his contract expires.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ career points total?

As of the 2025-26 season, Nugent-Hopkins has recorded over 650 career points in more than 800 NHL games, all with the Edmonton Oilers. His career-high season was 2023-24, when he posted 106 points (31 goals, 75 assists).

What NHL records does Ryan Nugent-Hopkins hold?

Nugent-Hopkins holds the Oilers franchise record for the longest point streak by a rookie (13 games, set in 2011-12). He also became the first Oilers rookie to record 50 points in a season since 1994-95.

Is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins married to Madi Binnebett?

No, they are not legally married. Nugent-Hopkins and Madi Binnebett are common-law partners in a long-term committed relationship. They have one child together.

What position does Ryan Nugent-Hopkins play primarily?

He primarily plays center but has shifted to left wing to accommodate the Oilers’ depth chart. He is listed as both center and left wing on the team’s official roster.

How many seasons has Ryan Nugent-Hopkins played in the NHL?

He has played 14 NHL seasons as of the 2025-26 campaign, all with the Edmonton Oilers since being drafted first overall in 2011.

What is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ current contract length?

His current contract is an eight-year extension signed in 2021 that runs through the 2028-29 NHL season. The deal is worth $41 million total with a $5.125 million annual cap hit.

What is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ shooting style?

He shoots left-handed. His shot is known for being accurate rather than powerful, and he generates most of his offense from the slot and the half-wall on the power play.



Lucas Noah Mitchell MacDonald

About the author

Lucas Noah Mitchell MacDonald

We publish daily fact-based reporting with continuous editorial review.