According to reports out of Edmonton, Pierre Dorion took in two of the most recent Oilers’ home games leading to suspicions that the Senators’ general manager is doing some scouting for a prospective offseason trade.
In an article for Sportsnet Mark Spector hypothesized that Dorion could be looking at Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who, thanks to the emergence and prominence of Conor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, may be too expensive for the Oilers as a third line centre. Nugent-Hopkins has three years left on the seven-year, $42 contract that he signed in September of 2013.
Nugent-Hopkins has spent the past number of games flanking McDavid on the Oilers’ top line, but if Oilers management and the coaching staff believe that he is not well-suited for the wing, it could position the organization to use him as a trade chip in a deal to bring in a coveted winger for McDavid.