Skip to content

Oilers' Chiarelli didn't feel need to trade for another goalie

Kim Klement / USA Today Sports

Peter Chiarelli's inactivity on the goaltending front before Wednesday's trade deadline was surprising to some, but the Edmonton Oilers general manager says he's comfortable with the netminders on the roster.

"We decided we're going to go with the goalies we have," Chiarelli told reporters after the 3 p.m. ET deadline passed. "We see improvement and we're confident in (backup Laurent Brossoit)."

Cam Talbot has been reliable as the Oilers' starter, going 32-18-7 with a 2.38 GAA and .920 save percentage, but he's played 57 of Edmonton's 64 games, already one more appearance than he made in all of last season.

Brossoit - a sixth-round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2011 - has allowed eight goals in four NHL games this campaign.

The Oilers were among the teams interested in Jaroslav Halak, as ESPN's Craig Custance reported Tuesday, but the veteran goalie - who's playing in the New York Islanders' system - wasn't moved on deadline day.

Chiarelli did acquire forward David Desharnais from the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Brandon Davidson on Tuesday, but the GM didn't believe the club required any further adjustments.

"We felt, after making the move yesterday for Desharnais, we weren't going to be overly active," Chiarelli said Wednesday, adding that he's confident in the group as currently assembled.

"They deserve to see what they can do," he added.

The Oilers occupy second place in the Pacific Division, five points behind the San Jose Sharks - who own two games in hand - and two points up on the Anaheim Ducks, who have one game in hand on Edmonton.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox