Despite swirling rumors throughout the season, the Edmonton Oilers will not be dealing forward Jordan Eberle at the 2016 trade deadline, according to a report from Elliotte Friedman on Saturday’s “Headlines” segment on Sportsnet.
Eberle has been one of many Edmonton forwards who has been rumored to be dangled for help on the blue line. The rumors generally seem to surround whichever one of their high-end draft pick forwards isn’t performing as well at the moment.
At the moment, Eberle is benefitting in a big way from being placed on a line with rookie Connor MCDavid, including registering the first hat trick of his career earlier this week when the Oilers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 in a game where Eberle had four points and McDavid was involved in all five goals.
Friedman called the connection between McDavid and Eberle “magic” and says he’s “lead to believe” that are not interested in moving Eberle at the deadline. Want to continue developing young pieces and having Ryan Nugent-Hopkins out of the lineup may contribute to that decision.
If they’re going to move a forward for a defenseman, they’ll get just as much if not more for a piece if they move a guy over the summer. At that point they will have a better sense of what their blue line will look like next season.
Eberle has seven goals and three assists in the six games since McDavid’s return. Overall, he has 18 goals and 14 assists through 44 games on the year.