Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

[Swivel Hips]

I think this is certainly good news.

This from TSN:

Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - The Edmonton Oilers announced on Monday that they have signed forward Jordan Eberle to a three-year NHL entry level contract.

Eberle was taken 22nd overall in the 2008 draft by the Oilers and recently finished his third season of junior hockey with Regina of the Western Hockey League. In his time with the Pats, the 18-year-old notched 105 goals, 99 assists and 204 points in 197 games. That included 35 goals and 74 points in 61 games this season.

Eberle also established himself in the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championships while skating with Canada, as he posted the game-tying goal in his team's 6-5 overtime win over Russia in the semifinals. He also notched a shootout tally in that contest, helping move eventual-champion Canada into the gold medal game versus Sweden.

[Numberz]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

Does this mean he might find his way onto the roster this season?

[Angelus]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

Does this mean he might find his way onto the roster this season?

He'll be given every opportunity to do so.

edit: Oops, thought you meant next season.

[Numberz]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

I find it hard that he'll be able to pick up our system and join the team so quickly, even with him being in camp earlier this year. However, I don't see any other reason why they'd sign him now rather than in the offseason.

[stamphater]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

So does this mean Eberle could be an RFA at the end of the year after next? Kind of odd to sign this when they did.

[Swivel Hips]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

So does this mean Eberle could be an RFA at the end of the year after next? Kind of odd to sign this when they did.

I'm thinking the Oilers think he can play right now.

[Rayminator]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

Does this mean he might find his way onto the roster this season?

I don't think this season - it's pretty rare for players to go directly from junior to the NHL - too much of a change. But you never know; perhaps he is good right now.

Although IMO a more realistic expectation is to wait to see what he looks like after at least a year in Springfield.

[Angelus]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

IIRC, this same thing happened with Kyle Turris in Phoenix last year where he played a couple games in the NHL at the end of the season.

I doubt we see Eberle in Oilers silks this year though.

[Rayminator]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

So does this mean Eberle could be an RFA at the end of the year after next? Kind of odd to sign this when they did.

Non-issue IMO - no GM is going to be stupid enough to make an outrageous offer to a player who in all likelihood is not even ready for the NHL yet.

If someone wants Eberle on their NHL roster this season that badly if I was Tambo I would laugh in their face and take the 6 draft picks or whatever as compensation.

[Angelus]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

Non-issue IMO - no GM is going to be stupid enough to make an outrageous offer to a player who in all likelihood is not even ready for the NHL yet.

What are you talking about? He said two years from now. You have no idea where Eberle will be then.

If someone wants Eberle on their NHL roster this season that badly if I was Tambo I would laugh in their face and take the 6 draft picks or whatever as compensation.

If he's "not ready for the NHL yet" as you so boldly predicted, how do you figure he's going to be worth 6 draft picks?

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

I'm not sure I see the reason for doing this now.

Will he be AHL-eligible next year? (will he be 20?)

If not...I don't think he's playing up here next year. He's not ripping the CHL up to the same degree as Gagner was IIRC, and he's also still pretty small, no?

It's not like we're lacking for youth - I would rather see him back in Regina next year. I like the guy, but I don't know if bringing him up that early is a good thing - see Brule, Gilbert.

And thus, if he's likely going back to jr anyways...why are we signing him now?

[Esks4ever]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

to get a good head start on ruining his offensive talent, and converting him to an Oiler Special aka plugger

[Rayminator]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

What are you talking about? He said two years from now. You have no idea where Eberle will be then.

Exactly my point. He may be ready, he may not. I never said he would definitely be ready, just that in all likelihood he wouldn't be, and anyone signing him to a gigantic contract would be taking way too much of a risk.

If he's "not ready for the NHL yet" as you so boldly predicted, how do you figure he's going to be worth 6 draft picks?

That was just the figure I brought out because I know you get draft picks for RFAs as compensation....I just picked 6 as a random number because that's what Lowe had to give up for the Penner offer sheet...hence why I added the "or whatever" after it.....

[PDO]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

No.. this is actually the perfect time to sign him. He gets to play for the Falcons (who have no hope in hell at making the playoffs - my god they've been terrible), but doesn't burn a year of his eligibility.

To burn one of those years off, he'd have to play at least 10 games.

The Falcons have exactly 9 games left.

I'm really liking Tambs. He appears to be absolutely excellent at asset management.

It's nice for Eberle, because he gets the signing bonus. It's nice for the Oilers, because they don't have to worry about him having a huge WJC and being able to put the Oilers to the grill for every last penny.

[PDO]

Re: Oilers Sign Eberle To 3-Year Entry Level Contract

Actually, slightly different.

His deal doesn't kick in until next year, and he simply signed a tryout with the Falcons. For any of the cheap years to burn off, he'd have to play at least 10 games as an Oiler next season.

Hopefully, he'll be in the WHL and we don't rush him and waste one of those...

The 50 contract thing (you can only have 50 players signed to NHL deals) is covered because of the fact the Falcons only have 9 games left... you have to play at least 11 games in a season for it to become an issue... he's an exemption because of his WHL status.