EDMONTON - The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to a six-year, $36-million US contract extension with forward Jordan Eberle.
The announcement was made Thursday afternoon, a day General Manager Steve Tambellini calls a significant one for the hockey club.
"(Eberle) deserves it. He's an incredible player, an incredible person and wonderful for our community," Tambellini said adding, "His committment to this organization has been strong from day one."
Jordan Eberle says he's excited, it's a deal he's been anxious to sign.
"I'm happy to be an Oiler. I think it's a term that you know, states that I want to be here for a while."
The five-foot-11, 184-pound Eberle, a 2008 first-round draft pick, still has a year to go on his entry-level contract. The 22 year old Regina native has registered 52 goals and 67 assists in 147 games over his two seasons with Edmonton.
The signing comes just over a week after the Oilers signed forward Taylor Hall, Eberle's roommate, to a seven-year, $42 million extension. Tambellini believes the contracts sends a message to the league and the players that these guys are committed to being in Edmonton.
"It's not like Jordan and Taylor were looking for a two year extension. They were willing to talk about committing the next seven or eight years here in Edmonton. That's the type of committment you need to get everybody on board."
"I think it kind of signifies, like I said before, we both want to be here for a significant amount of time. You know, we see the direction the team is going, and that's in a forward direction. I think this year is definitely going to be a big year for us as far as, you know developing our name as a team," added Eberle.
Tambellini believes the combination of Eberle and Hall will be a huge factor in the growth and success of the Oilers, a feeling some fans agree with.
"It might help attract maybe some of the more seasoned signings later on, because you do have young superstars who are committing to the city long term," said one fan Global News spoke with.
"The fact that Hall and Eberle are here and they're here for a long term, it's going to be a driving force for other young stars to come," said another Oilers fan.
Tambellini knows this is only the beginning for the young star.
"I think we're just starting to see what Jordan Eberle is going to become," said Tambellini.
Eberle had 34 goals and 42 assists in 78 games last year with Edmonton.
With files from Ross Neitz, Global News.
© The Canadian Press, 2012