The Calgary Flames have made a noteworthy move by placing Jordan Oesterle, a veteran defenseman and former Chicago Blackhawks player, on waivers. This decision, as reported by Chris Johnston of TSN, comes after Oesterle's ten-year NHL journey, which began with the Flames this summer following his two-year stint with the Detroit Red Wings, concluding in 2021.
Oesterle, who often served as the Flames' seventh defenseman, may now see more ice time due to a recent four-game suspension handed to Rasmus Andersson. In the current season, he has averaged just over 14 minutes of ice time per game, maintaining a -2 rating with no points.
While it's unlikely that Oesterle will be claimed off waivers in the next 24 hours, his cost-effective cap hit makes him an appealing option for teams in need of short-term defensive assistance. The Minnesota Wild, Philadelphia Flyers, and San Jose Sharks, among others, may be interested in adding Oesterle to their rosters.
If claimed, it's expected that Oesterle's role within a new organization won't differ significantly from his current position with the Flames. However, Calgary's urgent need to clear his $925K cap hit is driven by their limited remaining salary cap space of only $295K after utilizing LTIR.
