Faced with a strain on their available goaltending depth, the Edmonton Oilers are getting creative.
In just the last week, the Oilers have lost Anton Forsberg -- who was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes, and then waived again before being picked up by the Winnipeg Jets -- and Mike Smith, who will be sidelined for at least 10 games after being placed on long-term injured reserve.
To address their goaltending situation, Edmonton has picked up Troy Grosenick off waivers and re-assigned Olivier Rodrigue to the team’s taxi squad. But because of quarantine restrictions, neither goalie will be available until at least Jan. 27, when the Oilers finish their upcoming road trip that takes them through Toronto and Winnipeg.
"What the Oilers are looking at is: are there any amateur goaltenders in quarantine in those two cities they could use as a No. 3 in those two particular situations," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported during the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada. "That's how they're going to try to navigate this for the next little while."
The Oilers, Friedman added, have also reached out to former Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard to fill their goaltending void. However, Howard indicated that he is planning to retire.
Edmonton is 1-2 on the season.
