Nugent-Hopkins recalled his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Rexall Place in Edmonton on Oct. 9, 2011. He scored his first NHL goal with 4:55 left in regulation en route to a 2-1 shootout victory.
“The emotions, the whirlwind that I felt going into that game, were a lot different than now,” he said. “Just going out there for the first time and feeling the atmosphere at the old Rexall Place, feeling the Edmonton crowd, was one that I’ll never forget.”
Oilers coach Mike Babcock said the morning celebration included messages from Nugent-Hopkins’ teammates and wife, Breanne.
“It was emotional to actually hear them,” Babcock said. “Kevin Lowe, you can say whatever you want, unbelievable player, unbelievable man, what he means to the city. Then you’ve got a guy like (Nugent-Hopkins) who has been steady ever since he got here, probably underappreciated. Yet when you coach him, you just know how good he is.”
Nugent-Hopkins said his longevity has been aided by his willingness to develop beyond the offensive game he brought into the NHL.
“I try to touch different aspects of the game,” he said. “It took me some time to find a game that I could count on night in, night out. I’ve been fortunate to have the trust of different coaches throughout the years.”
Babcock praised Nugent-Hopkins’ hockey sense, strength, and awareness of his teammates.
“He knows how to play and knows how to do the right thing,” Babcock said. “He’s way stronger, his stick is way heavier, he’s way smarter. He’s just a good player.”
New Jersey Devils forward Connor Brown, a teammate of Nugent-Hopkins with Edmonton from 2023-25, called him an ideal example for younger players.
“He does everything right,” Brown said. “He puts the team first. He can play in any position, anything called upon. Such a competitive player, such a competitive teammate.”
In addition to becoming the Oilers’ leader in games played, Nugent Hopkins is sixth all-time with 517 assists, seventh with 811 points and eighth with 294 goals. He has seven points (three goals, four assists) in six games this season for the Oilers (11-2-2).
For Nugent-Hopkins, setting the record was also a celebration of remaining with the organization that drafted him.
“This was the dream when I got drafted, and I haven’t wavered throughout my whole career that I want to be an Edmonton Oiler,” he said. “Start my career here, finish my career here. It means a ton to me.”
