(picture courtesy of thescoutingreport.org)
Statistics (2010-2011): Red Deer Rebels (WHL): 69GP 31G 75A 106P +30 51PIM
"RNH", "The Nuge", "Hopper"... whatever you want to call Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, this kid has a name worth remembering. The slick two-way playmaking centre could very well go first overall this spring. If you would have told me four months ago that Nugent-Hopkins was going first overall pick, I wouldn't have agreed. His 6'0" and 170lbs frame isn't deemed NHL ready by most standards and he went more then a month without scoring a goal.
Now don't get me wrong, I have always been a big fan of Hopkins. He has always had the potential to be first overall but hasn't made a solid case for himself since he was left off the WJC roster. But I didn't think he would respond the way he has since the World Junior Championships. Not to take anything away from Sean Couturier, Gabriel Landeskog or Adam Larsson, but Hopkins is easily the hottest player in the 2011 Draft right now. Even though he had an "okay" start to the season he wasn't scoring at the pace he is now. Prior to the WJC ending, the Red Deer Rebels forward was sitting at 37GP with 10 goals and 38 assists.
However since then he has posted 21 goals and 37 assists for 58 points in just 32 games. To put his 1.813 P/G into perspective, Sean Couturier finished with 1.655 P/G. Nugent-Hopkins entire season might not be better statisticsally, but his second half is significantly better then Couturiers. As far as his "two way" ability goes, the Red Deer Rebels have gone 24-8 since the WJC. Not too shabby for the kid. In addition he is already leading the WHL playoffs with 5 points in just two games against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Here is a video of his six point performance against Moose Jaw on February 4th:
Although he is lacking in size (height), he makes up for it in other ways. He has the speed to beat defenders one on one, the skill to take you out of your seat and the mentality that makes him hard to throw off his game. He is calm with the puck and can slow down the game or speed it up. He can beat defenders in so many ways. If you pressure him he can dish the pass off to his teammates in the slot, but if you give him space he can carry the puck into the slot himself and put it past the goaltender. He makes everyone around him better and can dominate games. He is a tenacious forechecker that always gets the puck on his stick with his superb backchecking abilities. He has an excellent wrister and the agility that makes him hard to hit.
An interesting article back on March 14th by Thepipelineshow said that "2 NHL GM's, who have a very good chance of ending up in the NHL draft lottery have said they would take the Red Deer Rebel first overall". In addition, "another high placed scout thought if RHN reached the 30 goal mark it would be enough to convince whoever has the first overall pick to take him". Well, he finished with 31 goals and here we sit.
As far as the Oilers are concerned, I think they will be very sorry if they pass on "Hopper" for Sean Couturier. He may not have the size that the Oiler are looking for, but he will easily become the best "small" forward that Edmonton has- even better then Jordan Eberle. I still salivate at the thought of Hopkins dishing the puck to Taylor Hall in slot. If he centers a line of Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle for the next 15 years, I would be one very happy fan. If Edmonton selects either Larsson or RNH we are going to get ourselves a number one center or a number one defenceman for years to come.
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