St. Louis Blues Acquire Anders Nilsson from Edmonton Oilers
With the trade deadline fast approaching, the St. Louis Blues found a temporary backup for Jake Allen.
Updated, 12:43 PM: Last night’s initial trade report didn’t include specifics about who or what the Blues were sending to Edmonton in exchange for Nilsson, but we now know that minor-league goalie Niklas Lundstrom and a 2016 fifth-round pick will head the Oilers’ way in exchange for the goaltender.
With the NHL’s trade deadline coming up on Monday, the St. Louis Blues reportedly took action on Friday night to provide some protection should a worst-case scenario occur in goal. As TSN’s Bob McKenzie first reported, the Blues are said to have acquired goaltender Anders Nilsson from the Edmonton Oilers for a mid-round pick (likely a fourth or fifth-rounder), one that will be specified on Saturday morning as long as everything progresses properly.
More from Arch Authority
- St. Louis Cardinals: Randal Grichuk to begin Double-A rehab stint
- John Brebbia deserves a shot as the St. Louis Cardinals’ closer
- St. Louis Cardinals place Randal Grichuk on DL, recall José Martínez
- St. Louis Cardinals release RHP Corey Baker from organization
- St. Louis Cardinals activate Kolten Wong and Kevin Siegrist from DL, option Luke Weaver and Alex Mejia to Triple-A
The 25-year-old Nilsson played in 19 games over two seasons for the New York Islanders before spending 2014-15 in the KHL. Nilsson returned to the NHL for this season and has served as the backup to Cam Talbot in Edmonton, playing in 26 games (24 starts) while posting a 10-12-2 record, a 3.14 goals-against average, a .901 save percentage.
Nilsson was needed in St. Louis due to an injury to Brian Elliott which is expected to keep him out for at least a month. Jake Allen is clearly the Blues’ starter, but GM Doug Armstrong had expressed a desire to find a veteran backup, and Nilsson fits that role closely enough. While Allen is expected to get all the starts in net even with Nilsson in the fold, it makes sense to have a more experienced backup around as the games begin to carry heavy momentum. Neither the Blues’ current backup, Pheonix Copley, or Jordan Binnington, who has logged two stints with the club this season, has ever started an NHL game, so by acquiring a veteran the Blues at least have options should Allen become injured once again.
Nilsson will initially be assigned to the AHL Chicago Wolves, but it’s highly likely that this is just a paper move as he travels to join the team. The Blues are operating with a full roster right now, and with forward Ryan Reaves suspended, defenseman Alex Pietrangelo questionable this weekend as he returns from an injury, rookie Jordan Schmaltz needed in case Pietrangelo or the banged-up Robert Bortuzzo can’t play, and Ty Rattie serving the same function for Jori Lehtera and Jaden Schwartz, who are dealing with day-to-day injuries, they can’t afford to open up a roster spot and still have Copley available as the backup until Nilsson arrives.
Next: Top 30 Goalies in Blues History
For those who believe in the significance of such things, Nilsson wore number 39 with the Oilers and would have the chance to do so again with the Blues. If he chooses to stick with the same jersey number, he’d be the second straight goalie who the Blues have acquired at deadline time to wear 39, as Ryan Miller wore the number following his acquisition from the Buffalo Sabres in 2014.