THE CANADIAN PRESS
DENVER — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is sticking with the Edmonton Oilers.
The team announced Friday that the No. 1 pick at June’s draft will remain with the club past the nine-game mark rather than be returned to junior.
"He knows the spotlight has been on him and will continue to be, but he went out there and did what he’s always done," said Oilers GM Steve Tambellini.
Nugent-Hopkins was scheduled to play his 10th game against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night, automatically kicking in the first year of his entry-level contract.
He was tied for the team lead in points after scoring five goals and four assists through nine games.
Even though the Oilers waited until the last moment before announcing the 18-year-old centre was staying, the news didn’t come as a surprise.
Teammate Ryan Whitney took to Twitter soon after it was made official: "The Nuge is staying in NHL huh? What a shocker. In other news, sky is blue, grass is green and it’s going to be cold in Edmonton in January."
