Music: {allcanada} Eberle contract imminent, likely to mirror Hall's

Thursday, August 30, 2012

{allcanada} Eberle contract imminent, likely to mirror Hall's

EDMONTON - Jordan Eberle will have a contract extension similar to his roommate Taylor Hall very soon, Sportsnet.ca has learned, with ongoing negotiations between Oilers GM Steve Tambellini and Eberle's agent Craig Oster set to continue in the next 24 hours.

On Aug. 22 Hall signed a seven-year, $42 million extension with Edmonton. The contract will activate after the 2012-13 season, the last year of Hall's entry-level contract. Eberle's first pro contract also has one more season to run, making him eligible to negotiate a long-term extension prior to the expiration of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The NHL is hoping to limit contract term to five years maximum in the new CBA, though negotiations are not finalized.

Though it is Tambellini's wish to have Hall and Eberle set the salary cap at $6 million per season - setting an artificial salary cap in Edmonton the way the Sedin twins do at $6.1 million in Vancouver - the Eberle camp may not be as willing to sign an identical deal to Hall's.

Both Hall and Eberle, who live together in Edmonton, have played two National Hockey League seasons. Thus far Eberle has proven more durable, playing more games than Hall (147 to 126). Eberle has also produced more goals (52 to 49), more assists (67 to 46) and more points (119 to 95) than Hall.

Eberle, 22, is a year-and-a-half older than Hall, who turns 21 on Nov. 14. He is effectively two hockey seasons older than Hall however, and as such will reach unrestricted free agent status at age 27, where Hall was set to become a UFA at age 25.

That leaves Hall more earning years at the end of his seven-year deal than Eberle would have if he agreed to the exact same term.

Chances are the Eberle camp would accept an AAV of $6 million per season, matching Hall, but will negotiate a shorter-term contract by a year or two than Hall's seven-year deal.

Either way, sources expect the deal to be announced by week's end, or if not, early next week.