Goaltender Laurent Brossoit was back in Chicago this week after his AHL conditioning stint. Then, on Monday afternoon, the team placed him on waivers. The former Edmonton Oilers netminder has been loosely linked to the team as rumors have swirled about their goaltending situation, and this waiver offers the opportunity to grab him in free agency.
It’s unclear if the Oilers are still looking for a goaltender. After trading Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak for Tristan Jarry, Edmonton may have placed its bet on the goaltender it wants and thinks it needs. But if GM Stan Bowman wants to completely overhaul the crease — in much the same way the Colorado Avalanche successfully did last season — placing a waiver claim on Brossoit is an option.
These types of moves are not without consequences or risks.
First, the Oilers would have to make the money work. Claiming waivers for Brossoit means he will take his full $3.3 million hit. That is not possible without other movements. The Oilers had to give up pieces they didn’t want so the Jarry trade could work logistically. Adding another $3.3 million means more pieces going out, and Calvin Pickard on waivers ($1 million) isn’t enough.
Second, Brossoit is coming off an injury. It would be a big gamble to put the Oilers’ goaltending fate on the shoulders of Jarry and Brossoit, both of whom have had health issues in the past year.
It will be complicated to bring Brossoit in at all
Some fans are suggesting that if Brossoit clears waivers, the Oilers should try to make a trade, moving Pickard for a 50% retained Brossoit. There’s no guarantee the Blackhawks will be open to that kind of action; it doesn’t solve Edmonton’s cap problem, and it doesn’t change the injury situation.
On the surface, it’s easy to see why some fans might see his name on waivers and jump on the bandwagon of adding Brossoit in free agency. However, it wouldn’t be free at all.
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