Oilers recall Reinhart, Oesterle and place Khaira, Benning on IR

(Photo Credit: Kenny Karst-USA TODAY Sports)

This morning, the Oilers announced that they have recalled defencemen Jordan Oesterle and Griffin Reinhart from the Bakersfield Condors, while also placing Juhjar Khaira and Matt Benning on the injured reserve. 

As Lowetide wrote this morning, Matt Benning has been a highly effective player during his time in Edmonton. However, after being rocked with an unexpected hit early last night, he has now been placed on the IR with no immediate timetable for his return.

Juhjar Khaira showed well in just three games this season with the Oilers before he was injured in a January 18 game against the Florida Panthers. While it hasn’t been clear as to what the injury is to Khaira, in yesterdays Capilano Rehab Injury Report, Jason Gregor commented saying that Khaira is still unable to shoot a puck.

This season, Jordan Oesterle has appeared in 24 games with the Condors and has scored three goals and 15 assists for 18 total points. The 24-year old defenceman has played in 23 NHL games with the Oilers in which he has posted six assists. 

Last season, Oesterle made the most of his NHL time scoring five assists and averaging 21:52 TOI per game in 17 games with the Oilers. 

After going undrafted, the Oilers signed Oesterle as a free agent on March 31st, 2014. 

Drafted fourth overall in the 2011 NHL entry draft by the New York Islanders, Griffin Reinhart’s first three pro seasons have not gone exactly as planned. The big defenceman has had his struggles in finding any significant NHL time with the Islanders, or the Oilers. 

Acquired in a controversial trade at the 2015 Draft, Reinhart has slowly been making forward progress in his career. This season, he has played in 29 games with the Bakersfield Condors putting up 11 assists in that time.

He has played in just 37 NHL games, scoring two assists.

With there being a need for defencemen in Edmonton due to injury, it was interesting to see that the Oilers didn’t use their recall on Mark Fayne. The Oilers opted to put Fayne in the AHL for this season, where he has scored nine points in 13 games. 

As the deadline nears, it will be interesting to see how Peter Chiarelli and co. handle the trade market. Reinhart could be getting a test drive here in the NHL.