If I’m to understand training camp reports out of Calgary correctly it appears that Flames head coach Brent Sutter is in search of a No. 1 centreman. I hate to break it to you Brent but I think you’ll also have to find a No. 1 centreman for the team you own because I don’t think Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be a Red Deer Rebel this season. Not the way he has performed through the pre-season with Edmonton.
Nugent-Hopkins with his young linemates Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle put on a show Tuesday night in Edmonton’s pre-season win vs. Phoenix. “RNH” had a goal and two assists and has a total of six points in the pre-season, which is tops on the team.
Okay now it’s time for you to say it’s just the pre-season — and I know that — but don’t penalize the kid over something he can’t control. I’m not saying he’s going to have 80 points this year but I’m also wondering why he shouldn’t play in the league.
People keep looking at reasons to keep Nugent-Hopkins in Edmonton so I’ll spin it the other way tell me why you wouldn’t keep him.
I’m waiting… still waiting… can you come up with anything?
I really can’t and if anyone says he should go to Red Deer simply because he can, I don’t agree with that. Other than if the Oilers feel this kid could be physically harmed because of his slight stature I can see no reason why Nugent-Hopkins isn’t an Oiler this year.
Let’s be honest here: this is a team that has missed the playoffs five straight years and has been last in two straight seasons. I would be nitpicking if I gave reasons for him to go back to juniors. Like he needs to be a little stronger on the puck or he doesn’t quite know his defensive responsibilities or he doesn’t win enough faceoffs.
“Screw that,” is what I say. You have the No. 1 pick in the draft who is showing you everything and more that you want to see and you’re going to ship him off to someone else and have them watch over his development?
No way! I would want him here every practice, every game, every moment of the season so I (that being the Oilers organization) could watch this kid’s every move. He’s a very humble young man who may not look as forthcoming in his will to succeed as you might see from Taylor Hall or maybe Ryan Smyth; but don’t be fooled. This kid wants to play in the National Hockey League now… not next year.
He’s only expected to play one more pre-season game and I don’t think he could do enough damage to his hopes in one more showing. This kid is the real thing. I don’t think he’ll be a Rebel anymore but he does have a cause and it’s the Edmonton Oilers.
Let him use those soft hands to lend a big helping hand in restoring some pride and points into the fabric of the five-time Stanley Cup champs. Because to me RNH equals NHL, not WHL.