The Edmonton Oilers have reportedly offered the longest serving member of the team a five-year contract.
TSN’s Frank Seravalli’s reported that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ camp was in no rush to ink the deal and that it’s highly unlikely the Oilers will seek a trade for the UFA ahead of the deadline.
No meaningful progress, but it’s not for a lack of trying. I’m told the Oilers tabled a recent offer to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and his camp, but it was one that wasn’t flattering. I believe in the five-year term, certainly not one that RNH was rushing to the table to find a pen to sign. At this point, these two sides are going to continue talking — that’s what they’ve agreed to. They’re going to continue the dialogue.I have zero sense the Oilers have any interest in moving Nugent-Hopkins before the deadline even without a deal done. They’d like to keep him, try and find a way to win, and keep him locked up long-term. We’ll see if they can do that. – Insider Trading
News that the dialogue continues and that there’s a desire from the team to keep him as a long-term part of the organization is good news for Edmonton fans. Nugent-Hopkins continues to be a solid piece of the club’s top-six where he’s found himself as a staple over the last decade.
In 641 games with the Oilers, he’s scored 180 goals and 470 points and his production has only gotten better with time. Over the last three years, he’s scored 61 goals and 157 points in 184 games.
In that same time he’s remained in the 91st percentile of even strength offensive production and the 96th percentile of powerplay production, according to JFresh Hockey. On top of that, he ranks in the 75th percentile in goals per hour, and the 100th percentile in quality of competition. There’s no denying Nugent-Hopkins’ immense value to the club.
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reported two weeks ago Nugent-Hopkins’ camp and the Oilers had re-entered contract negotiations with previous negotiations being in the $6-$6.5-million range.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
