Air Jordan: Islanders acquire Eberle in one-for-one swap with Oilers

This is not a test. I repeat this is NOT a test.

The Islanders have acquired winger Jordan Eberle from the Edmonton Oilers for forward Ryan Strome in a player-for-player exchange.

Eberle, who has been the subject of trade rumors to the Islanders since about 1987, has 20 goals and 31 assists last season for Edmonton. Selected in the first round of the 2008 draft, Eberle has 165 goals and 217 assists in 507 games, all played for the Oilers.

Strome was drafted fifth overall by the Islanders in 2011 and has 45 goals and 81 assists in 258 career games. He had 50 points (17g, 33a) in his sophomore year two seasons ago, but then started to struggle and found himself demoted to AHL Bridgeport just months later. He had 30 points this past season, including 13 goals, and it was thought that with Jack Capuano out and Doug Weight in as head coach, Strome would get a fresh start with the organization.

Turns out, that fresh start will come in Edmonton.

And speaking of fresh starts, Eberle comes to Brooklyn after being installed as Edmonton’s latest whipping boy, replacing Taylor Hall who was traded to New Jersey last summer. But last year’s down numbers are - potentially - just an outlier for a guy who ranks among the NHL’s most productive forwards (no matter what Edmonton media guys want you to believe).

Via Travis Yost at TSN. Read the whole article for more like this.

On a rate basis, Eberle’s been a top-25 goal scorer in the league over the last three seasons – and again, this data to include his “down year” of 2016-17. I think the most striking thing about his comparables is how the majority of guys on this list are either considered core forwards or are valuable enough that most any trade idea involving them would get nixed by their general manager.

Another feather in Eberle’s cap is his history with a guy named John Tavares.

On the international stage, Eberle has represented Canada at five World Championships, winning gold in his most recent tournament in 2015. He also skated with Team Canada at two World Junior Championships, winning gold in 2009 along side John Tavares and Thomas Hickey. Eberle scored one of the biggest goals in the tournament's history, tying the semi-final game against Russia with five seconds remaining. Eberle and Tavares both scored in the shootout to send Canada to the gold medal game where they defeated Team Sweden.

Eberle’s acquisition isn’t totally perfect. He had a lousy playoffs and is making $6 million for the next two seasons before going UFA. That said, the consensus seems to be that Garth Snow got the best of Peter Chiarelli again, completing the hat trick.