Oilers GM says Eberle trade tied to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl
CHICAGO — Edmonton general manager Peter Chiarelli listed three reasons for trading Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders, but the one that loomed largest had more to do with franchise cornerstones Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Getting Eberle’s costly deal off the books gives the Oilers room to fend off a “predatory” offer sheet to Draisaitl, a restricted free agent on July 1 coming off a career-best 77-point season. Rival GMs could be looking to strike knowing that the Oilers face not only a pricey new deal for him, but an even bigger one to McDavid, who just won the Hart trophy at age 20.
Chiarelli said he didn’t think any offer sheet to Draisaitl was necessarily imminent, “but there’s always the chatter and I want to be firm and clear that we have a significant amount of space and will match anything.”
McDavid still has one year left on his entry-level contract, but can be signed to an extension (which kicks in for the 2018-19 season) on July 1 — one that could and deservedly should be quite pricey.