Edmonton Oilers sign Jayden Grubbe to three-year entry-level contract

Earlier this afternoon, the Oilers traded a 5th round pick in 2023 to the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Jayden Grubbe, and only a couple of hours later, the team got his name on the dotted line for a three-year entry-level contract that carries an AAV of $925,000 at the NHL level.

Back in early April, Frank Seravalli reported that the New York Rangers were making Jayden Grubbe available for trade as they were not planning to sign him before the June 1st deadline. Of course, if Grubbe went unsigned by tomorrow, he would have re-entered the NHL Draft for a second time and been available to anyone with a free draft pick and belief in his abilities. As it turns out, Ken Holland didn’t want to wait that long and pulled the trigger on a deal to bring in the 65th pick from 2021 as a means of bolstering the organization’s depth down the middle.

Originally selected in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft, the Calgary product has spent the last four seasons with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League where he was named captain in 2020-21 and has served in the role ever since. This past season, the 6’3″ right-hander registered 67 points (18 goals, 49 assists) in 64 games played with the Rebels, posting a career-high in goals, assists, and points. Grubbe added an additional 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 12 games during the WHL playoffs before the Rebels were eliminated in the second round versus the Saskatoon Blades.

So what kind of player are we talking about here? From EliteProspects.com:

Through the 194 games played in the Western Hockey League, Grubbe registered 39 goals and 95 assists for 134 points, adding four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in 22 career WHL postseason appearances. With his junior career now behind him, Grubbe will report to Bakersfield for his first taste of pro action with the Condors as he looks to take the next step in his young career.