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Islanders swap Strome for Oilers’ Eberle

Boost Offense with Former Two-Time All-Star Forward from Edmonton

June 22, 2017 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Jordan Eberle is the newest member of the New York Islanders after being acquired in a trade from the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday morning. AP photo by Rick Scuteri
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The Islanders are dead serious about keeping John Tavares right here in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn, or wherever else the franchise winds up playing following next season.

In a move designed to boost the team’s offensive firepower and the soon-to-be free agent team captain’s hopes for a brighter future here in our fair borough, New York general manager Garth Snow on Wednesday morning acquired two-time NHL All-Star forward Jordan Eberle from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for veteran winger Ryan Strome.

“We’re excited to add a proven offensive weapon like Jordan to our lineup,” Snow said in a statement just hours after the Islanders lost backup goaltender Jean-Francois Berube to the Las Vegas Golden Knights via Tuesday night’s expansion draft.

In an attempt to steer the first-year franchise away from taking some of the Isles’ more coveted unprotected players, Snow also gave the Golden Knights his first-round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, a second-rounder in 2019, as well as defenseman prospect Jake Bischoff and veteran front-liner Mikhail Grabovski.

With the expansion draft out of the way, and his roster unfrozen at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Snow went to work on picking up a player that Tavares is very familiar with from his time with Team Canada.

The 27-year-old Eberle, who piled up 20 goals and 31 assists in 82 games last season with Edmonton, has represented Canada in five World Championship Tournaments, including a gold-medal winning performance in 2009, when he and Tavares both scored memorable goals to help defeat Team Sweden in the final.

Eberle, who is owed $12 million over the next two years, has scored at least 20 goals in four consecutive seasons, and the native of Saskatchewan has amassed 165 goals overall since the Oilers selected him with their first-round pick in 2008.

Tavares, a free agent following the 2017-18 campaign, has lacked both star power and fire power to coincide with his elite skills at the center position, especially since Snow allowed forwards Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen to leave Brooklyn via free agency following the team’s inaugural season at Barclays Center.

Eberle should provide proven scoring punch to the first line, taking some of the pressure off emerging young forwards like Josh Ho-Sang and Anthony Beauvillier as they come into their own over the next few seasons.

“He brings speed and a knack for scoring not only consistently, but scoring big goals, in big games,” Snow said of Eberle, who made back-to-back trips to the All-Star Game in 2011 and 2012.

Eberle has been an alternate captain with the Oilers since the 2012-13 season. He scored a career-high 34 goals and 76 points in 2011-12.

“Jordan brings leadership and experience into our room, qualities that will continue to help us build towards our goals of being a consistent playoff contender and winning the Stanley Cup,” Snow added.

Strome, who had 13 goals and 17 assists in 69 games last season, was originally drafted fifth overall in the opening round by Snow in 2011.

Berube, 25, played in 14 games with New York last season, going 3-2-2 with a 3.42 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage. Snow still has veteran netminder Jaroslav Halak to dangle as trade bait if he decides that Thomas Greiss will be his No. 1 goalie going forward.

Grabovski, 33, hasn’t played since the 2015-16 campaign due to concussion-related issues. His departure will save the Isles approximately $5 million in salary cap space as they continue to pursue even more talent to surround two-time Hart Trophy finalist Tavares.

Beginning July 1, Snow can begin negotiations on a long-term contract extension with Tavares, hoping to prevent one of the best players in franchise history from departing following next season.

Landing Eberle was a major first step in accomplishing that goal.

Isle Have Another: The Islanders announced this week that their third season at Barclays Center would begin on Oct. 7 with the team’s home opener against the Buffalo Sabres. New York also revealed its entire preseason slate, which will include a return to the Isles’ Long Island roots. On Sunday, Sept. 17, the Isles will play their first game at the renovated NYCB Live Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum since leaving their long-time former home following the 2014-15 season. New York will host Philadelphia that night, and those wanting to revisit the new “Old Barn” can purchase tickets to the contest beginning June 29 at 10 a.m. The Isles will also have two preseason games at Barclays on Sept. 20 vs. Philadelphia and Sept. 25 against New Jersey.

 

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