The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking for a #1 center. Could they target Edmonton Oilers Ryan-Nugent-Hopkins?
The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking for a #1 center. Could they target Edmonton Oilers Ryan-Nugent-Hopkins?

TSN is reporting that Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen is looking to trade for a top-line centre. After trading Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Winnipeg Jets, the Blue Jackets are now looking to fill the #1 center roll.

Kekalainen stated, “It’s a challenge because they’re just not available,” Kekalainen said. “You usually have to draft and develop one. We did that well with one player (Dubois), and now he’s not here.

“Now we have to get back into our hunt, finding a centreman either through the draft or through a trade. They aren’t available very often. There could be some available in the free agent market next summer.”

If the Blue Jackets decide not to go into rebuild mode, they will likely have to trade for a center instead of drafting and developing one like Dubois.

NHL Trade Rumors reported earlier that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins could be available. The Edmonton Oilers are tight against the salary cap next year and might not be able to re-sign Nugent-Hopkins and may look to trade him at the NHL Trade Deadline.

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