Top 2011 Entry Draft Pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to play in season opener with Edmonton Oilers –NHL
Edmonton Oilers were worried about their top 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft pick, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, not being able to adjust in the major league, but were delighted to announce him ready to make it big while playing for them in their season
opener against Pittsburgh Penguins at home on Sunday, October 9.
Having a great preseason and training camp session with Edmonton Oilers, the former first overall draft pick hopes that his performance was enough and will be enough in the future to make him keep going.
"I feel confident in the way I've been playing in preseason. I'm happy with the way it's gone. I've had some awesome line mates to work with and stuff. I'm pretty comfortable with the way things have gone", Nugent-Hopkins said.
It still has not been decided whether Nugent-Hopkins will be used in the starting line-up alongside top 2010 entry draft pick, Taylor Hall, but one thing is for sure that he will be there and ready to play.
According to Edmonton Oilers head coach, Tom Renney, Nugent-Hopkins will be playing and his performance in the upcoming regular season matchups will be the ultimate deciding factor in whether he will be staying with the major league team or making a return
to the minor league for further improvement.
"We all understand the parameters there that he can operate in before we have to make a real concrete decision on the season", Renney said. "Again, we'll do it a game at a time, but he's had a very good camp”.
Having played three straight seasons with Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, has been leading the minor leagues in terms of playing abilities along with point scoring. Just last year, the 18-year-old potted 106 points
(31 goals, 75 assists) in 69 matchups and finished with an impressive plus-minus rating of 30.
Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins playing in the same matchup and on the same line have proved to be a dynamic partnership for Edmonton, which at the moment is in dire need of a miracle to turn their team around.
Tags: