Oilers: How Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stacks up with the 2011 NHL Draft

It’s been a long time since the Edmonton Oilers selected Ryan Nugent-Hopkins first overall.

He became the Oilers’ second first overall pick in as many years in 2011, set to join an Edmonton team with other young talent in Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Sam Gagner.

And while it took time for Nugent-Hopkins to hit his peak, there’s no denying he’s been one of the best from his class. He’s had a long career in Edmonton appearing in 959 games, scoring 271 goals, 477 assists and 748 points.

The first round misses

This was, by all accounts, a really good first round class. Of the 30 players selected, they’ve averaged 572 NHL games, 115 goals, 199 assists and 314 points.

In fact, there were only nine players who played less than 200 games, with none of those players being selected in the top-10 of the draft. The busts within the first 20 picks include defenceman Duncan Siemens, drafted 11th overall by the Colorado Avalanche, centre Mark McNeill, and drafted 18th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks, forward Tyler Biggs. Others like forward Tyler Biggs (22nd overall, Toronto Maple Leafs) and forward Zack Phillips (28th overall, Minnesota Wild) never played an NHL game.

The Value

There were a lot of players from this draft who carved out long careers for themselves, but a few notable ones from later rounds include Johnny Gaudreau (fourth round, 104th overall, Calgary Flames) and Ondrej Palat (seventh round, 208th overall, Tampa Bay Lightning)

Then, of course, there was Nikita Kucherov, selected in the second round, 58th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He ranks 13th in the class in games played, as well as first in goals, assists and points by a large number.

How does Nugent-Hopkins stack up with the class?

Simply put he stacks up incredibly well with this class.

For one, he’s played the most games of any played selected in this draft class, as well as the fourth-most goals, assists and points. The only players with more goals are Mika Zibanejad (sixth overall, Ottawa Senators), Mark Scheifele (seventh overall, Winnipeg Jets) and Kucherov.

Those with more assists are Gaudreau, Jonathan Huberdeau (third overall, Florida Panthers) and Kucherov, while Huberdeau, Scheifele and Kucherov are the only three with more points.

Did the Oilers make the right pick?

Without a doubt.

It’s hard to imagine the Oilers over the last 14 years without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the team, who will go down as one of the franchises greatest players. His longevity has been tremendous as has his ability to show up in the big moments.

He’s played in 96 playoff games for the Oilers in his career, scoring 23 goals, 58 assists and 81 points. Among those drafted in 2011, his games played ranks fifth, his goals eighth, his assists second and his points third.

While there were other great players taken within that top-10, I can’t imagine any of them in an Oilers jersey over Nugent-Hopkins.

Past classes

• Jesse Puljujarvi — 2016 draft
• Nail Yakupov — 2012 Draft