Oilers Acquire Spooner in Exchange for Strome
The Edmonton Oilers announced they’ve acquired Ryan Spooner from the New York Rangers in exchange for Ryan Strome. The Rangers also retained $0.9M of Spooner’s salary in the trade, which is set to expire at the end of the season.
The former fifth overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Strome struggled to produce in Edmonton after being acquired in June 2017 as part of the Jordan Eberle trade. Strome scored 13 goals and added just 21 assists in 86 games for the Oilers, including just one goal and one assist through the first 18 games of this season. The move to the Rangers could lead to more ice time for Strome, who was saddled in as the Oilers’ third-line centre behind Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. The earliest he could make his Rangers’ debut is tomorrow night against the Panthers.
In Spooner, Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli acquires a player he selected 45th overall for the Boston Bruins in 2010clas. The deal marks the second trade in nine months for Spooner. Spooner finished last season strong with the Rangers after being acquired by the Bruins, registering four goals and 12 assists in 20 games.
Unfortunately for Spooner, his ice time took a significant hit this season under new Rangers head coach David Quinn. After averaging 16:51 for the Rangers last season, Spooner’s ATOI in 2018-19 dropped over five minutes a night to 12:41. The dip in ice time combined with a 5.9 on-ice SH% has resulted in only one goal and one assist in 16 games this season. Playing in an enhanced role in the dynamic top-six of the Oilers, Spooner should have no problem getting back to his career 0.55 points-per-game pace.