The Edmonton Oilers have traded forward Teddy Purcell to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a third round draft pick.
Teddy Purcell to FLA for I believe a third round pick.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) February 27, 2016
Teddy Purcell Traded to Florida
Purcell, 30, has been showing his best career numbers since his time on his previous team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, back in 2011-12. The 6’2″, 195lb right winger from St. John’s, Newfoundland has once scored 24 goals in his career. This season Purcell has 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points in 61 games for the Oilers.
Purcell was making $4.5 million AAV on a three year deal originally signed as an extension with the Lightning. After four strong seasons with the Bolts, Purcell’s performance dropped in 2013-14, putting up only 12 goals and 42 points in 81 games. Purcell would be traded to the Oilers on June 29th, 2014 for Sam Gagner. Purcell continued to perform at less than his previous level with 34 points in a full season in Edmonton in 2014-15.
Purcell was fantastic in the playoffs for the Lightning back in 2010-11, when he had 17 points in 18 post-season games. He’s also primarily an even strength point producer, something that should be appealing to his new club. A strong playoff performance could get Purcell re-signed, or else he’ll be going back to the market, where he’s the right age for teams to be skeptical of a consistent performance, but has enough size and resume to be signed early in the summer.
We will have more details on this trade as it develops. Follow @LastWordonPuck and Lastwordonsports.com for all of your NHL trade deadline news and analysis.
