Nugent-Hopkins learned about overcoming adversity early in his hockey career.
His slight build meant he had to work harder than the bigger kids he was playing against, including his older brother, Adam.
Nugent-Hopkins learned about overcoming adversity early in his hockey career.
His slight build meant he had to work harder than the bigger kids he was playing against, including his older brother, Adam.
In his second year of pee-wee hockey eligibility, Nugent-Hopkins did not play competitive hockey at all. His parents, Debbie Nugent and Roger Hopkins, had divorced, and Roger was diagnosed with lymphoma and required surgery to remove his spleen.
The tight family finances meant Nugent-Hopkins took a sabbatical from hockey, though he worked out with a trainer that season.
Not that the hiatus held him back. Nugent-Hopkins was the No. 1 pick in the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft in 2008 and soon emerged as an elite scorer for Red Deer. He had 31 goals and 106 points in 2010-11 and was selected by the Edmonton Oilers with the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft.
As an NHL rookie, Nugent-Hopkins had 52 points in 62 games. He finished second to the Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog in voting for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the League's top rookie.
Nugent-Hopkins played half the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season with Oklahoma City, Edmonton's American Hockey League affiliate, then joined Canada's national junior team, which named him captain. Though Canada finished fourth at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship, Nugent-Hopkins was named the tournament's best forward.
Nugent-Hopkins had shoulder surgery April 23, 2013, which ended his season five games early. He agreed to a seven-year contract with the Oilers on Sept. 19 and played in the 2015 Honda NHL All-Star Game before finishing the season with 56 points (24 goals, 32 assists).
Shortly after returning from a rib injury March 3, 2018, Nugent-Hopkins was shifted from center to left wing on a line with Connor McDavid. He was nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- WHL Rookie of the Year (2010)
- Canadian Major Junior All-Rookie Team (2010)
- WHL East First All-Star Team (2011)
- NHL All-Rookie Team (2012)
- Played in NHL All-Star Game (2015)
