(Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire)

Pierre LeBrun was on Toronto’s TSN 1050 on Tuesday afternoon.

As part of a larger discussion on the Edmonton Oilers:

“I think with Edmonton, the only thing that changed is that a couple of teams have been calling on Nugent-Hopkins. Now, I don’t think Edmonton – in fact I know – they were not shopping him. I don’t think that was a priority for them, was to trade Nugent-Hopkins. But it doesn’t prevent other teams from checking in, because he’s a young center.

“Nashville did have a conversation. The Predators phoned before the trade of Seth Jones and they checked in with Edmonton. I think they were way more interested in Ryan Johansen anyway.

“Other teams for sure would have phoned between now and the 29th on Nugent-Hopkins because of the perception that if the Oilers are going to get better on defense, then they may have to trade either Nugent-Hopkins or Eberle at some point.

“And that, I think, may still be true, but maybe more in the offseason than it is now. And even then, I mean the Oilers really value Nugent-Hopkins, at 22. Incredible depth down the middle with him and Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.”

Source: TSN 1050/ Transcript: Nichols