Just like last year, the Edmonton Oilers owned the first overall pick in last weekend's 2011 NHL Draft. Just like last year, the team selected a young Canadian who promises to be one of the most collectible rookies in the league as soon as he hits the ice.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Just like last year, the Edmonton Oilers owned the first overall pick in last weekend’s 2011 NHL Draft. Just like last year, the team selected a young Canadian who promises to be one of the most collectible rookies in the league as soon as he hits the ice.
That ridiculously talented rookie this year is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, an 18-year-old center who soon enough will team with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle to form one of the most talented young teams in the NHL.
Just minutes after his name was called to drop the puck on the draft Friday night, Nugent-Hopkins stopped by the Panini America studio for his closeup. Well, for lots of closeups — most of which you’ll see in the can’t-miss gallery below. But know that we took advantage of our quality time with the rookie by acquiring far more than photos.
We also had him sign a hat that we’re going to give away to one lucky reader of The Knight’s Lance. All you have to do to be eligible to win is stroll through the Nugent-Hopkins gallery below as well as our other on-location posts from the 2011 NHL Draft and comment on some of your favorite images. That’s it.
Panini America on Location: Sights and Sounds from Day One at the 2011 NHL Draft
In Uniform: A Gallery of the First-Round Phenoms Selected in the 2011 NHL Draft
We’ll select one lucky commenter at random to win the hat. Four additional winners selected at random will receive autographed photos of 2010 rookies Tyler Seguin, the aforementioned Hall or Jamie McBain.
Enjoy this gallery and the others and be sure to comment on your favorite pics.
he is going to be a beast
Very cool info. Hopefully, you can get him to come to the National and sign!
He’s so young but seems composed in these photos. Expect big things from him. The Oilers will be a contender for a long while if they can hold onto Hall, Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins.
I don’t collect much hockey,but an auto from a possible future HOF star is well worth a shot.
Looking forward to another strong rookie card showing from you guys next season. Can’t wait to see these pics in them soon.
RNH – Hall – Eberle = Stanley Cup in 3 years. Calling it now! I’d love to see another Cup Finals between my two favorite teams like in 05-06, Oilers – Canes!
Thanks for giving away these prizes to your readers Panini. You guys are awesome.
The Oilers are gearing up to be a big time team!!!! I cannot wait to see them next fall!
The Oilers are going to be annual contenders in a few years with all of the young talent they have. They remind me of the Penguins with all of their young talent.
His inscription is cool,
He is going to absolutely amazing in a few years!
The top pic is my favorite. Its awesome Panini shares this behind the scenes with us keep up the great work.
coolness
I hope he is a true beast and stays healthy
Great looking autograph on a great looking hat! Thanks for the contest!
I’m quickly becoming an Oilers fan. If they can keep all these guys they will be a team to beat for many years to com.
Classic poses….hopefully with this young core, the oilers can return to the glory years. I agree with the composure comment. Love the second to last picture.
Tyler Seguin!!!!
LETS GET SOME DUCK love in here! http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/269125_10150232529443472_99917438471_7443777_6512363_n.jpg getting ready to get a little hook Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
thanks for the contest!
SEND ME A PANINI T-SHIRT w/ my autograph photo please!!!! 😉
Cool to see all these guys in their future NHL jerseys. Can’t wait to see them on Hot Rookies cards in the coming years.
Awesome stuff as usual! Second one would look sweet on a card.
Wow!! Thanks Panini for the contest!! Hope to win! never won here before. Amazing pics!!
Can’t wait to see next seasons cards!
the hat is sick
I love the signature!
Represent beautiful bc well Ryan! Hall, eberle, paajari, omark, nugent-Hopkins wow this team will be a dynasty in a few years!
sick hat…oilers gonna be a force in nhl very soon
Will be cool to see him if he cracks the line up next season. My favourite photo without a doubt is the Ryan-Gabriel shot!
That hat is absolutely incredible!
What a stud
Looks like he had a blast taking those picks.. its gotta be a Dream Come True being picked #1 overall. Growing up I am sure we all had our most favorite pose if we ever got to be on a card – he got to do that as well.
Sure he hasnt come down off that cloud yet…
I hope to pull a few of his cards come next season.. Thanks
Oilers are just stocking up on the talent….
Can’t wait to see the Dual Hall/Nuge cards……
GOT MY COMMENTS IN….WISH ME LUCK!
Ryan doesn’t seem to be affected by his #1 draft pick status. He seems to be genuinely having fun while going through the photo shoot. Maybe Taylor Hall gave him some pointers on what to expect and how to react. They are going to be a great young team in the next season or two. Watch out NHL, the Oilers are back!
All right!! I love seeing new rookies and players coming up!
Oilers betting win the Stanley Cup next time! :O
That’s a nice hat. All the other stuff along with it is nice too, (the Hall photos & the Seguin cards). It’s good to see these guys signing a lot of autographs & not having their autographs being “restricted” like some other companies do. Good job Panini!
Don’t watch much hockey but I know who he is! Would love to win his signed hat. Thanks so much
may he avoid all the sticks that will be gunning for him.
Lets bulk him up and get him on the ice. Cant wait to see him play !!
possible dynasty…. we will soon see everyone names the two big guys Hall and Eberle don’t forget about Paajarvi and Omark. And now this kid.Could be great or could be like the Bengals in football.All #1 picks and nothing to show.
That’s always an exciting time of the year. Nugent-Hopkins might be the missing piece of the Oilers puzzle.
Who’s that guy and why’s he writing on my hat?! Can you please send it back to me? You can leave the writing on! lol
Yup, the Oilers could be a force to be reckoned with. They just need a goalie now.
I am liking what I see!! Looking forward to the Panini hockey sophomore year!
I was at the draft, that would be a cool prize. It would hav been sweet to see some “next day” cards on Saturday, signed or not.
With Nugent-Hopkins in the lineup with the two, the Oliers will be unstoppable. Can’t wait til next season.
love all the shots of the picks in their jerseys–also loved the Dustin Byfuglien Winnipeg Jets shot
Thanks for photos. Its great to see behind the scenes stuff!
Thanks for the contest.
Finally a BC boy is #1 Pick
Nice hat. Congrats Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on going #1 in 2011. Hope you crack that awesome Oiler line up next season.
Too bad he couldnt wind up in NY. We need the help!
N-H will be ok sharing the puck with all those other ‘stars’, but I got my eye on the Devils pick at 4. There are way too many scorers in the league and not enough of a premium on defense. I know it is unfair but looking at Larsson, he is a beast and if he comes anywhere close to Lidstrom his cards will be worth a premium plus he will produce right away. RNH will have to wait awhile before he really makes an impact.
great looking stuff!
tyler seguin is going to be the name we here a lot about for years to come! Panini has done a great job covering the draft and keeping us fans up to date! Thank everyone.
sweet looking hat
Thank you Panini for giving us hockey people some love too!
Yes, this guy is sure to be a stud! Too bad he won’t be in Detroit with my Wings! Thanks for the contest!
They are stacked. Can’t wait for next season!!
You continue to be the industry leaders! Great stuff!
I appréciate all the products of PANINI. I found a redeem card of Jeff Skinner (ROY) in Crown Royale, silhouette patch /25. This is my most beautifull card of my collection. I would like add to my collection the signed hat from Nugent-Hopkins 1ST pick of the draft…
Paul Levasseur
I always like to see this behind the scenes stuff. Keep up the great work!
It was awesome to be at the Draft and see the players reactions. Great to see the pictures.
Love all the pics with him pointing the stick and balancing pucks! Should definitely be exhibited in one of next years sets! Cant wait to see them!
Great looking photo shoot. Panini has become one of the best at signing people. Making deals with Kobe, Kyrie, and so many big names. Won’t surprise me if Hopkins becomes a star.
That’s a great shoot. He seems so poised and comfortable with the camera. Can’t wait to see this kid out on the ice.
Edmonton RNH was an awesome move!! Watched him live at an Oil Kings playoff game…he’s so super quick and stealthy.
oiler fan for many years.live a few hours away.
would be nice to win.never won anything before.
did this end yet?
We’ll select winners early next week.
Great autograph inscription! I love the pose where the stick is wayyyy up close to the camera lens! Oilers are rebuilding to championship form!
big TML fan here, so being able to see them in their future jersey and potential rookie card photoshoot is always a bonus! Thanks for all these behind the scenes photos!
Great draft coverage, a great look at what goes on behind the scenes. I enjoyed the picture with Mark Scheifele, getting the large NHL Shield jersey, now wouldn’t that make a special 1/1 card 🙂
RNH has the eyes of a champion.Thank you Panini America for being at the 2011 NHL Draft. I was born in Edmonton..Always a Oilers fan! Hopkins mania is heating up!..I will be looking out for Panini’s 2011-2012 NHL Trading cards..Thank you!
Great contest!
The photographs that show the stick up close, yet with the player in the background really works as a way to provide a shot that is enhanced with depth, leaving no wasted space in the frame. Great pictures!
He will make more from his rookie signing bonus than I will in many years.;)
I like the 2nd to last one the best…it looks like he’s ready to get a great shot on net
I hope he and Hall can grow in to a Gretzky-Messier type pair and lead the Oilers to many years of high level competition.