The Edmonton Oilers find themselves at the center of trade rumors as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches, with two notable names circulating in discussions. Both players are not officially on the market, but it is believed both may be on the move over the next two weeks. If they are, and Edmonton is interested, both would be considered blockbuster deals. The window of uncertainty opens up possibilities for the Oilers to strategically determine who might be the better fit. The potential deals involve Jordan Eberle from the Seattle Kraken and Jake Guentzel from the Pittsburgh Penguins, each offering a unique dynamic to Edmonton’s roster.
Remarkably, the proposed arrangement calls for Jordan Eberle to rejoin the Oilers, with the Seattle Kraken keeping a salary of 75%. In order to make cap hits work, the Oilers are rumored to be transferring a 2025 4th Rd Pick and Mattias Janmark to the Chicago Blackhawks, while Seattle would receive a 2024 1st Rd Pick and Raphael Lavoie (with 50% retained).
Eberle, who is 33 years old, offers the Oilers more than nostalgia. He finished the previous season with 20 goals and 63 points, demonstrating his continued productivity. This season should be good for him. The Oilers are looking for a player that is pass-first in order to complement players like Leon Draisaitl, and Eberle’s right-shooting, top-six forward style fits that description. The marketplace
suggests Eberle could be a more cost-effective acquisition than Guentzel, offering playoff experience and debunking previous notions about his clutch performance.
This would be the more romantic of the two trades, bringing a former Oilers star back into the fold. It also offers better odds of potentially re-signing the player. Eberle would be productive, but he wouldn’t necessarily be as productive as Guentzel.