Edmonton Oilers To Sign Goaltender Jimmy Howard

The Edmonton Oilers have announced that goaltender Mike Smith has been placed on long term injury reserve and Olivier Rodrigue will be recalled from the Austrian league. It is now likely that Ken Holland will sign former Detroit Red Wing Jimmy Howard to fill their goaltending vacancy.

Jimmy Howard had a historically bad season last year with a 2-23-2. The onus does not lie completely with Howard for this record as the Red Wings had one of their worst seasons in franchise history. Despite his woes, Holland feels that Howard has lots of hockey left in him and can still play at the NHL level.

The Oilers claimed Troy Grosenick off waivers this afternoon as well. He has played well in his last three seasons as a member of the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. However, this transaction is not expected to impact Howard's arrival to the Oilers organization. 

The door may have just opened for Jimmy Howard to reunite with Ken Holland https://t.co/sO8ydXdI0z

— DetroitSportsNation (@detsportsnation) January 16, 2021

Photographer: Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire