Brossoit ‘blindsided’ by Oilers acquiring Montoya
Like a screened shot through traffic that finds the net, Laurent Brossoit never saw the trade for another backup goalie coming.
But while the Edmonton Oilers’ party line is they want the kid playing in Bakersfield rather than sitting on the Oilers’ bench, newly acquired Al Montoya has a contract for next year, too.
The journeyman backup, who has been with six NHL teams throughout 159 games, isn’t a rental. He’s making $1.06 million this season and next, which presumably means he’s here for the long haul and not just a few months to give starter Cam Talbot a breather.
This might be the last we see of the 24-year-old Brossoit, who showed flashes in his 13 games he can do the job as a No. 2, even if his .886 save percentage obviously needs work. He’s still learning his way.
Talbot didn’t solidify his NHL backup spot with the New York Rangers until he was 26, after he’d played three minor-league seasons.
Brossoit’s contract is up July 1 and he’ll be on waivers when Montoya gets the green light to come off injured reserve, where he’s been since Winnipeg ’s Dustin Byfuglien nailed him with a shot off his mask two months ago. Brossoit was on the team flight to Dallas with the Oilers Friday, with Montoya joining them after a trip from Montreal. Brossoit may still back up Talbot Saturday even though he doesn’t fit into their plans now, or maybe ever again.
The AHL team in Bakersfield already has two goalies, Nick Ellis and Eddie Pasquale, with Shane Starrett, an ECHL all-star, further down the ladder.
So the addition of Brossoit to the farm might mean Ellis or Pasquale is loaned somewhere else, should Brossoit clear waivers.
Brossoit didn’t pout Friday at practice, coming to work and looking sharp, according to coach Todd McLellan. But the goalie admitted he was blindsided by the trade, even though he had sat for nine straight games.
“It’s not something I was expecting,” said Brossoit. “Wherever I end up, I’ll have to take advantage of playing more. There’s good in every situation and I plan to find that.
“I got more comfortable as I got playing more but there were moments I’d like back. If that’s part of the reason for this (trade), I’ll continue to learn from those experiences.”
Talbot was also surprised by the trade and certainly feels for Brossoit.
“It’s nice having a veteran backup who’s been around if something happens,” Talbot said. “But I don’t want to take anything away from L.B. It’s tough being a backup, coming in once every three or four weeks and they expect you to have your best game. Once he got his legs under him when I was hurt, I thought he played really well.”
McLellan said the team’s goalie plans had changed because of their scramble for a playoff spot forcing them to ride Talbot as they did last year, rather than give snippets to a youngster like Brossoit.
They got the 32-year-old Montoya from the Canadiens, who have farmhand Charlie Lindgren ready to play next season, for a conditional 2018 draft pick. If he plays seven or more games this season, it’s a fourth-rounder, anything less and it’s a fifth. The Oilers have eight back-to-backs left.
“I understand he’s frustrated,” McLellan said of Brossoit. “But it’s also the hockey world where the business part can be ruthless at times. It doesn’t take the sting away from him individually, though.”
RUSSELL UP POINTS
Kris Russell is as a shutdown, shot-blocking, tough-nosed cowboy who leads the Oiler defencemen in points with 16. His NHL career high is seven goals (2013-14) and 34 points (2014-2015) while playing for the Calgary Flames, but as a junior in Medicine Hat, he had 32 goals and 69 points in 59 games in 2006-07.
“Earlier (in Columbus), I tried to play like I did in junior but I had to find different ways to stay in the lineup,” Russell said, reflecting on entering the NHL. “I wanted to play more and my defensive side had to get a lot better.
“I don’t think you forget about offence, but last year I played a lot with Reggie (Andrej Sekera) and he got up a lot in the rush so I hung back. Sometimes I’ve decided to err on the side of caution and stay back.”
On Thursday, he scored off a sweet Connor McDavid feed, coming late into the play, hit the crossbar on another chance and got robbed late when Ryan Getzlaf made a stop in the crease with goalie John Gibson bowled over and inside the net. He could have had his first NHL hat trick.
“That’s a stretch,” laughed Russell, who has 43 career NHL goals.