Oilers Recall Oesterle and Reinhart

The Edmonton Oilers made a pair of transactions on Saturday following the team’s third consecutive loss. Jordan Oesterle and Griffin Reinhart, two defenders that finished last season on Edmonton’s blue line, were recalled from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors and will join the team in Montreal for Sunday’s matinee against the Habs.

The #Oilers have recalled defencemen Jordan Oesterle & Griffin Reinhart from @TheAHL's Bakersfield @Condors.

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 4, 2017

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Oesterle was strong last season in his recall, playing a top-four role and adding an element of puck movement to the defense corps. The Oilers have been struggling in this regard lately, so Oesterle’s addition to the lineup will be a welcomed move.

In 17 games a year ago, Oesterle recorded 0-5-5 and displayed good speed, puck moving ability and stronger defensive positioning that in 2014-15. He suffered through injuries to start this season, but he’s been very good as of late, recording 3-15-18 in 24 AHL games. Oesterle also was selected to the AHL All-Star Classic last weekend and, according to Condors’ observers, has been one of the better defenders on the farm this season.

Griffin Reinhart had a very disappointing 2015-16 season with the Oilers. He appeared in 29 games and registered just a single assist in the big leagues. He looked slow early on and, honestly, didn’t look like an NHL defender. His late season audition was a lot more promising, but a disastrous training camp this fall saw him sent down to the farm.

In 29 games, the Big Cat has registered 5-6-11 and has been arguably Bakersfield’s best defender for the last three weeks. He appears fully over the back issue that impacted him earlier this season and appears to finally be finding his stride in the AHL. As many have noted, there also appears to be a lot more nastiness to Reinhart’s game right now than in previous years. That’s a good sign.

Am told Griffin Reinhart has played much more assertively of late down in Bakersfield.
Scored 2 goals tonight, has 5-2-7 in last 9 GP

— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) January 28, 2017

The Departed:

In order to make room for Oesterle and Reinhart, Edmonton had to clear two roster spots. Jujhar Khaira, who was injured over two weeks ago, was officially shifted to the IR in one move. The other move saw Matthew Benning, who was injured last night in Carolina, placed on the IR.

Kris Russell, who blocked two nasty shots in consecutive nights, is also banged up but wasn’t placed on IR. He likely won’t play on Sunday in Montreal.

Jujhar Khaira & Matt Benning have been placed on IR.

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 4, 2017

Potential Pairings:

Luckily, the Oilers will be going on their bye week following Sunday’s game against Montreal, so these are likely to be just one game issues. I’d assume Russell, barring a broken bone, will be ready to go next Saturday when the Oilers return to action. It’s also possible Benning or Khaira could be ready to return as well.

As for tomorrow in Montreal, I suspect Todd McLellan will shift Brandon Davidson up to the second pairing to play with Andrej Sekera, while both Reinhart and Oesterle get into the lineup. Normally, I’d say Eric Gryba shifts in, but Montreal is more of a skilled and fast team, so the Oilers will need Oesterle’s transition ability. At least, that’s my take on it.

I’d go with the following pairings:

Oscar Klefbom – Adam Larsson

Andrej Sekera – Brandon Davidson

Jordan Oesterle – Griffin Reinhart

I do suspect that McLellan may be more comfortable with Gryba instead of Oesterle or Reinhart, but that remains to be seen.