Favorite Edmonton Oilers of All Time: #6. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

At number 7 I had a 2006 hero, goaltender Dwayne Roloson. Today on my list of Favorite Edmonton Oilers of All Time, I actually have a current Oiler: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins!

Nugent-Hopkins Recap

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was the first overall draft pick in the 2011 NHL Entry draft. Nugent-Hopkins ended up playing in the WHL with the Red Deer Rebels. Unlike previous Oilers on this list, it is difficult to write a recap of Nugent-Hopkins’ career due to the fact that he’s only entering his fifth season. There is a lot of hockey left in this young man’s life to be played!

He started off rather strongly in the 2011-2012 season. Despite his season only lasting 62 games, Nugent-Hopkins posted 52 points at a .84 PPG clip. As a rookie, that was outstanding. However, he did not win the Calder Trophy, losing to second overall pick in the 2011 draft, Gabriel Landeskog, despite Landeskog scoring the same amount of points in 20 more games. Nugent-Hopkins’ second season would be the lockout shortened season, where he split time between the AHL Oklahoma City Barons and the Edmonton Oilers. He ended up scoring 24 points in 40 games in the shortened NHL season. In the off season, he would have shoulder surgery and would end up playing a career high of 80 games in the 2013-14, but “only” netting 56 points. Last season, Nugent-Hopkins would play 76 games and again, hit 56 points.

However, despite the seemingly stagnant season, defensively Nugent-Hopkins was arguably our best or second best defensive forward on the team (behind the recently depearted Boyd Gordon). Nugent-Hopkins was heavily relied on last season, second only behind John Tavares for the league lead in Time on Ice per Game for Forwards. It was not like Nugent-Hopkins had an easy time against fourth line scrubs either: he was constantly facing the highest competition.

Despite “only” netting 56 points, Nugent-Hopkins is bringing a strong two way game to the table despite only being 22 years old.

Why Nugent-Hopkins at #6?

There’s a few reasons why I personally like Nugent-Hopkins on my list. First off, as I described above, he’s trending well into becoming a two-way force that is smart on both ends on the ice. Sure, he will never be the physical dynamo, but the Pavel Datsyuk comparison that Ken Hitchcock made, ignites some excitement. On the list, he’s one of the Oilers crested jersey that I own. I bought it last year proclaiming it would be his breakout season. I was wrong on that count, but on the offensive front, I believe with the edition of McDavid, it will open up the ice for him. I think Nuge hits 60 points this year.

Mark Spector recently wrote an article of how Nuge is nearing elite category. I feel like Nugent-Hopkins is underrated in the league and I think that’s due to how poor the Oilers have been. With a real coach in place, he’s one of the Oilers to really focus on.

Now other reasons I like Nugent-Hopkins: He was really the first overall pick that I got to witness live before he made it to the NHL. I am an avid fan of our local junior team, the Edmonton Oil Kings and I attend dozens of games these past few seasons. I had the pleasure of watching Nugent-Hopkins dismantle my precious Oil Kings in a first round sweep in the 2011 WHL Playoffs. On a side note: I have never witnessed the Oil Kings defeat the Red Deer Rebels live at Rexall place. It’s a curse. I hate the Rebels for it.

Anyways, Nugent-Hopkins convinced me that the Oilers would take him first overall pick. I remember being at the game with some friends. After a scrum, Nugent-Hopkins slashed one of our hometown boys. My friend took exception to that calling him a “little expletive”. I retorted “Well Mitch, I think that little expletive is going to be our next first overall pick”. Even to this day I still rib my buddy about that.

Finally, Nugent-Hopkins was drafted on my birthday, June 24th 2011. I turned 22 that year and I have had the pleasure of having my birthday landing on important events (either the draft or in 2013 thanks to the lockout, seeing the Stanley Cup raised). In combination of watching him play juniors and my birthday, I was going to support Nugent-Hopkins and he’s managed to find a spot on my all time favorite list.

I have a great feeling about him for this upcoming season and I think people outside of Edmonton will take notice of him.

More from Oil On Whyte

Home/Editorials