Four Reasons Why The Eberle Trade Makes Sense

On Thursday, the New York Islanders acquired winger Jordan Eberle from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for center Ryan Strome. The trade has been seen positively by most Islander fans, and rightfully so, as Eberle has established himself as a formidable NHL starter and equips the team with a solid wing option to pair with captain John Tavares. Rather than simply list factual information, let’s provide four reasons as to why this is an excellent trade for the Islanders.

1. Eberle has developed into a consistent scoring option

Ever since being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round (22^nd overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Jordan Eberle has earned the reputation as a proven offensive weapon. The 27-year old has five 20 goal seasons in his seven years in the NHL, with a career high of 34 coming in 2011-12. In 507 career NHL games, all with the Oilers, he has racked up 165 goals and 217 assists. His 382 career points make him the third leading scorer from the 2008 draft class, behind only Steven Stamkos and Erik Karlsson.

2. New York took advantage of Edmonton’s roster issue

Eberle is the third star Oilers forward to be traded in the past two years, after Taylor Hall and Nail Yakupov were dealt to the Devils and Blues, respectively. Edmonton has prioritized its efforts in clearing cap space to give them a fighting chance at retaining star center Connor McDavid. Of-course, McDavid, a 20-year old franchise icon, has quickly elevated as a top player in the league, and recently won the Hart Trophy for his incredible 100-point 2016-17 season. The Islanders, as well as many other teams, knew that the Oilers would be willing to part with their moderately expensive assets and Eberle fit the bill perfectly, as he is currently owed $6 million over each of the next two seasons.

3. Strome’s need for a change of scenery

The Islanders had high hopes for Ryan Strome when they drafted him fifth overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, but it has been a bumpy road for the Ontario native. His best season in New York came in 2014-15, where he collected 50 points on 33 assists and 17 goals. Since then, however, he has been plagued with inconsistent play, possibly due to the offensive scheme of former Isles head coach Jack Capuano, and has struggled to regain his worth. Despite this, the soon-to-be 24-year old still carries plenty of upside, and a new look could do wonders for his NHL future. Strome will be given a golden opportunity to bounce back in Edmonton, so it will be very interesting to see how he responds to the new environment.

4. Eberle’s impact on the future of John Tavares

Eberle earned a gold medal with John Tavares and Thomas Hickey at the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship. The Islanders hope that Eberle joins Tavares on the first-line in 2018 and the duo become a solid one-two punch. Shortly after the trade was announced, Eberle spoke about his relationship with Tavares.

“I’ve had previous chemistry with John,” Eberle said in a conference call. “He’s a very intelligent 

player. Our games suit each other well.” He continued by saying that he is “excited to get an opportunity to hopefully play with (Tavares).”

The Islanders are trying to build a winning team for next season to convince Tavares to re-sign with the team, and bringing in Eberle, a two-time All-Star, should do just that. The two players have been regarded as close friends, so one has to imagine that their bond will translate nicely on the ice this upcoming season.