Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Linked To Trade Involving Blue Jackets Goaltender

The Edmonton Oilers are good, but they're not good enough. Their goaltending woes have prevented the team from playing next level hockey. The Oilers are prepared to sacrifice a big name in order to secure reliable goaltending.

Ken Holland is prepared to move Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in order to secure reliable goaltending, according to 91.9 Sports Radio in Montreal. Raphael Doucet states that the pending unrestricted free agent will be traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for either Elvis Merzlikins or Joonas Korpisalo.

This move would allow the Oilers to dump goaltender Mikko Koskinen at the end of the season and save a significant amount of cap space. Further, the Blue Jackets goalie tandem are each signed through the 2022 season, which gives the Oilers at least one more season of their services. Most importantly, Nugent-Hopkins may return to the Oilers next season if he and Holland can agree to terms. The Oilers are not exactly true deadline sellers, but if they have any playoff expectations they must secure reliable goaltending. It appears Holland is willing to throw the pending UFA to the wind a few months early.