Edmonton Oilers Select Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as Number 1 pick of 2011 NHL Entry Draft in First Round
After much speculation and rumouring, it was quite obvious that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the 18-year-old from the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Red Deer Rebels would be selected as the No. 1 pick overall.
That is exactly what happened as the Edmonton Oilers used their second consecutive first pick to select the young Canadian sensation on Friday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
It was the most exciting part of the yearly National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft and this year, it was Nugent-Hopkins who would lead all the young hockey prospects from around the world.
Even though it has been observed that Edmonton general manager, Steve Tambellini, is in no rush to use the first pick immediately, Nugent-Hopkins himself would not mind the idea of returning back to the minor leagues for another season.
"If I do go back to junior, I won't be disappointed at all", Nugent-Hopkins said. "It'll be a great opportunity for us as Red Deer as a team to hopefully get to the Memorial Cup. Personally, it'll be a good development year for me, too. But my goal right
now is to make the Oilers".
The first WHL no. 1 pick in history, if directed to play right away at the start of the new 2011-2012 season, will join former 2010 NHL Entry Draft first pick Taylor Hall in the line-up, who is also excited to be playing with him.
"He was so great to talk to. Everything looks good right now", Nugent-Hopkins said. "He just said, 'Enjoy this whole experience. You're going to be nervous and stuff, but try to enjoy it as much as you can”.
Edmonton has hope invested in the two first picks becoming their dynamic attackers, but it will never be certain how they perform together until Nugent-Hopkins is put on the ice.
The Red Deer Rebels centre player still has a lot to learn, and his 106 record in the WHL during the past season is a testament to his great playing abilities. His status will be updated in the upcoming weeks, on whether he will play in the major league
or sit out for another season.
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