At 1:30am Saturday morning, TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported that Edmonton Oilers goaltender Anders Nilsson wouldn’t be returning to Alberta with the team.
The trade was confirmed Saturday morning, making Nilsson a part of the Blues organization and sending 23-year-old netminder Niklas Lundstrom and a 2016 5th round pick back to Edmonton.
Nilsson will provide insurance for St. Louis with both Jake Allen and Brian Elliott having suffered injuries recently. In Allen’s return this week, Elliott was injured and is now expected to be out long-term. The Blues placed him on injured reserve Feb. 23, announcing that he’s expected to miss four weeks and then be re-evaluated.
Nilsson has a .901 save percentage through 26 games this season and is finishing up a one-year contract worth $1 million. He’s had a rough go of things recently, but started the season on a hot streak and may be the cheapest path to an experienced backup goaltender for St. Louis.
The Blues have assigned him to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.
For Edmonton, the return isn’t bad. They acquired Nilsson’s rights from Chicago in July for 21-year-old prospect Liam Coughlin, who is a freshman at the University of Vermont.
Lundstrom has predominantly been playing in the ECHL since going pro in North America last season. He’s played just five total AHL games between the two seasons.
The #Oilers have also recalled goalie Laurent Brossoit from the @Condors. LB made 32 saves vs. Winnipeg on Feb. 13. pic.twitter.com/2eQyDgca02
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 27, 2016
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This article was updated after the trade was confirmed on Saturday morning.
