Oilers deal Jordan Eberle to Islanders for Ryan Strome

Rumours of JordanEberleleaving Edmonton finally stopped Thursday.

Oilers general manager PeterChiarellifound a trade partner in Islanders counterpartGarthSnow, sendingEberleto New York for fellow forward RyanStrome.

Eberle, 27, is coming off a 20-goal, 51-point season, his seventh full NHL campaign since Edmonton drafted him22ndoverall in 2008. A year ago,Chiarellimoved2010 first-round forward Taylor Hall to New Jersey fordefencemanAdam Larsson.

"It's something I've never gone through before, it's a different experience,"Eberlesaid on a conference call. "But it's something I definitely knew would eventually come. For me right now, I'm definitely excited to be a New York Islander."

The right-winger didn't fare well in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, mustering just two assists in 13 games with a minus-6 rating, as the Oilers were eliminated by Anaheim in Game 7 ofa Western Conference semifinalafter securing their first post-season berth since 2006.

"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," said Snow in a statement.

Trade talks surroundedEberlefor a lot of his time in Edmonton, with the notion of shipping him out for a lesser, cheaper forward re-surfacing late in the 2016-17 regular season.

"I think moving forward this will be a new chapter, it'll be great with a new fresh start and a new team,"Eberlesaid.

He departs Edmonton with 165 goals and 382 points in 507regular-season contests. A Regina native,Eberlehas scored at least 20 goals in each of the past four seasons, and had a career-high 34 in 2011-12.

$6 million US cap hit

At theNHL'sVegas expansion draft on Wednesday night, Snow dealt a first-round pick in this weekend's draft, a 2019 second-rounder, the $5 million US contract of forward MikhailGrabovskiand defence prospect JakeBischoffto the Golden Knights.

The move was made for Vegas GM George McPhee to agree to select goalie Jean-Francois Berube, leaving Snow with prime assets and extra salary cap space sinceEberlecarries a $6-million cap hit for the next two seasons before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency.

The 23-year-oldStrome, also a right-winger,disappointed in his third full NHL season, recording 13 goals and 30 points along with a minus-8 rating.

Two years ago, the native ofMississauga, Ont., and No. 5 overall pick by the Islanders in 2011had 17 goals, a career-high 50 points and was plus-23, but dipped to eight goals, 20 points and minus-9 the following season.

Next season,Stromehas a cap hit of $2.5 million before becoming a restricted free agent.

He learned of Thursday's trade while flying with his family to Chicago, where his brother Matthew is expected to be drafted this weekend. Strome's other brother Dylan was drafted third overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2015.

"Super excited, honestly," Ryan Stromesaid, while repeatedly noting his eagerness to get started with the Oilers. "I couldn't be more excited for the new opportunity."

Strome added he hoped to regain some "swagger" offensively with Edmonton, perhaps skating alongside top forwards Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.

Thursday's trade frees up cap space forChiarelli, who is looking to sign McDavidand Draisaitlthis off-season.McDavid, who won his firstHart Trophyas NHL MVP at the league's awards ceremony in Las Vegas on Wednesday, is entering the final year of his entry-level deal but could be signed to an extension on July 1.

Draisaitl, who played on a line withMcDavidfor portions of this past season, will see his entry-level contract expire July 1. Hefinished second toMcDavidin team scoring at age 21 with 77 points in 82 games on 29 goals and 48 assists.

Rival GMs could be looking to strike and present Draisaitl with an offer sheet, but Chiarelli didn't believe such a scenario was 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."

The last offer sheet came in 2013 when Calgary offered Ryan O'Reillya two-year deal while the centre was a member of the Colorado Avalanche.

Elsewhere Thursday:

MontrealCanadiensgeneral manager MarcBergevin, after losingdefencemanAlexeiEmelinin the Vegas expansion draft, swung a deal with the Golden Knights to acquire blue-linerDavidSchlemko.

He sent Vegas a 2019 fifth-round pick forSchlemko, a 30-year-old Edmonton native who collected 18 points in 63 regular-season games this past season for San Jose. He added two goals and three points in six playoff outings.

Vegas GM George McPhee, who drafteddefencemanTrevor vanRiemsdykfrom Chicago on Wednesday, flipped him Thursday to theCarolina Hurricanesfor Pittsburgh's second-round selection (62ndoverall) this weekend.

Carolina also acquired the Golden Knights' seventh-round pick in 2018. VanRiemsdyk, 25, posted a career-high 16 points and plus-17 ratingin 2016-17. He won the 2014 Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks, and veryaffordable at $825,000 next season.