Going, going . . . gone?
The Red Deer Rebels’ chances of seeing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in their lineup this season took a major hit Saturday when the emerging NHL superstar recorded a hat trick for the Edmonton Oilers in a 4-3 loss to the visiting Vancouver Canucks. Nugent-Hopkins, the first overall pick in June’s NHL entry draft, has notched four goals in three games.
The silky-smooth centre won’t celebrate his 19th birthday until next April and it appears that he’ll be a teenager through most — and perhaps all, if playoff games are not forthcoming — of his first two seasons with the Oilers.
Rebels general manager/head coach Jesse Wallin hasn’t given up hope of having Nugent-Hopkins in a Rebels jersey this season, although he admitted that the odds are growing longer.
“You never know, I haven’t had any feedback from the Oilers,” Wallin said Sunday, less than 24 hours after his squad posted a 4-1 Western Hockey League win over the Regina Pats at the Centrium.
“I know that all along the plan was to play him in nine games and make a decision from there.
Obviously there’s still six games to go. We just have to be patient and see how things go, but obviously he’s acquitting himself well so far.”
If Nugent-Hopkins appears in 10 games with the Oilers, the first year of his three-year entry-level contact will kick in. Once he plays his ninth game, Edmonton management will have to decide whether the youngster who has almost certainly been their best player to date is ready for prime-time duty on a full-time basis.
Nugent-Hopkins, who last season scored 31 goals and contributed 75 assists for 106 points with the Rebels, fired his first NHL goal in a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 9, then was held pointless in a 2-1 shootout loss at Minnesota last Thursday.
“I didn’t see his second game, I heard he was just OK in that one, but I watched that entire first game and I thought he was the best player on the ice,” said Wallin.
While Wallin isn’t surprised that Nugent-Hopkins has already experienced NHL success, the fact that he’s tallied four goals in a hurry has to be unexpected.
“I don’t know that I thought he’d score like that,” said Wallin. “Although it’s funny, I remember just about every scout that asked me about him last year wondered why he didn’t have a lot of goals and I remember saying ‘don’t underestimate that aspect of his game.’
“He’s got a tremendous shot and he’s just so gritty. He just seems to crush every challenge that comes his way. He’s just that type of kid and
I think that’s what makes him special — his personality. He’s very humble, he’s very realistic and he works very hard at his game. He’s just a tremendous person and a tremendous kid to coach.
“Obviously we’d love to have him back, but at the same time our job is to prepare these guys to take that next step and I’m proud of how he’s playing up there right now.”
If Nugent-Hopkins maintains his strong play and sticks with the Oilers, his absence along with the loss of Byron Froese, Brett Ferguson and Andrej Kudrna from last year’s team will leave the Rebels lacking in proven offensive players.
“But we have depth up front,” overage defenceman Aaron Borejko said after Saturday’s win over Regina. “We have guys who know how to put the puck in the net and they’re starting to get more comfortable. We’re going to have to score as a community this season and we have guys who are capable of scoring lots of goals.”
Turner Elson potted his first of the season Saturday and Mathew Dumba’s third of the campaign — a second-period power-play marker — stood up as the winner.
John Persson, with his third of the season, and Tyson Ness, with his second, added empty-net goals in the final minute. Brandon Davidson scored Regina’s lone goal.
Patrik Bartosak turned in a solid 26-save performance in the Red Deer net. Adam Beukeboom stopped 29 shots for the visitors.
The Rebels host the Kamloops Blazers Wednesday, then entertain the Moose Jaw Warriors and Portland Winterhawks Friday and Saturday.
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com