The Edmonton Oilers announced on Thursday that defenceman Ryan Murray has been sent to the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL for a conditioning stint.

Murray last suited up for the Oilers back on November 21 and has been on the Long-Term Injured Reserve since December because of problems with his back. He appeared in 13 games and recorded three assists while logging an average of 13:07 per game with the Oilers before going on the shelf this season.

Since this is a conditioning stint, the Oilers can keep Murray on the LTIR and there won’t be any ramifications for their salary cap picture in the final days of the season. He also doesn’t have to clear through waivers to join the Condors in this situation.

Murray will be eligible to play in three games regular-season or playoff games for the Condors, according to Ryan Holt. Bakersfield has two more games left in the regular season against the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Friday and Saturday and it isn’t yet known who they’ll line up against in the first round of the playoffs.

If Murray is indeed healthy and game-ready, he would give the Oilers another veteran depth option on their blueline as they head into what’s expected to be a deep playoff run. Jason Demers, who recently suited up in his 700th NHL game with the Oilers, is the other veteran option for the Oilers in the event that one of their seven defenders gets injured.

Among the depth defencemen that the Oilers have under contract, Murray and Demers are the only ones with any NHL playoff experience. Markus Niemelainen has played 43 NHL games and has been out of the Condors’ lineup since March, Cam Dineen has 34 games at the NHL level but none in the playoffs, and Phil Kemp hasn’t yet made his NHL debut.