The Calgary Flames have made a significant roster move by placing Jordan Oesterle, a seasoned defenseman and former member of the Chicago Blackhawks, on waivers. This decision, reported by Chris Johnston of TSN, comes after Oesterle's decade-long NHL journey, which began with the Flames this summer following his two-year stint with the Detroit Red Wings, concluding in 2021.
Oesterle, who has primarily served as the Flames' seventh defenseman, may find himself with increased 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 improbable that Oesterle will be claimed off waivers in the next 24 hours, his cost-effective cap hit makes him an enticing option for teams in need of short-term defensive help. The Minnesota Wild, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, and others could express interest in adding Oesterle to their rosters.
If claimed, it's anticipated that Oesterle's role within a new team won't significantly differ from his current position with the Flames. However, Calgary's urgency to clear his $925K cap hit is driven by their limited remaining salary cap space of only $295K after utilizing LTIR.
