Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the new poster boy for local ticket brokers.
The 18-year-old first overall draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers was sending available ticket prices for Edmonton's Boxing Day game against the Vancouver Canucks into rarely seen numbers outside those of the original six NHL teams like the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"Of all the games at Christmas time, this is the one that everyone wants to see," said Burnaby ticket broker Kingsley Bailey. "This particular game they are selling at $135 each and going for as much as $550 at centre ice."
Prior to this season, Edmonton had been a tough sell for local brokers, said Bailey.
"We had to pay people to take them away," he said.
Nugent-Hopkins tallied an assist in Edmonton's 53 loss to the Canucks at Rogers Arena on Tuesday, garnering his 35th point of the season.
- tberridge@burnabynow. com
