En Route to Minor Leagues, Roussel Claimed by Oilers

As expected, goaltender Dominic Roussel never made it to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers claimed him off waivers Wednesday. Roussel had to clear waivers before he was eligible to play in the minors.

“Any time a team can add to its goaltending depth it has to take that opportunity, and Roussel has major league capabilities,” Oiler General Manager Kevin Lowe said in Edmonton Wednesday.

Roussel, 30, served as Guy Hebert’s backup for 2 1/2 seasons, but was deemed expendable when Pierre Gauthier, team president and general manager, recalled Jean-Sebastien Giguere from the minors Sunday.

“We felt he played adequately for us,” Coach Guy Charron said of Roussel, who was 2-5-2 in 13 games. “He has a chance now to fill the same role [backing up Tommy Salo] in Edmonton. It’s nice to see him have an opportunity again. I don’t know if Dom would have had a chance to come back here. He would have been a depth player for us [in the minors].”

Giguere, 23, was 12-7-2 with a 2.43 goals-against average in 23 games for Cincinnati. He won his first five starts. He also lost two starts for the Ducks earlier this season.

Charron expects to play Hebert, who started Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues, on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. Charron also said he hopes to play Giguere in “one or more” of the Ducks’ games on a three-game trip to play the Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Atlanta Thrashers next week.

*

Winger Mike Leclerc participated in his first full-length workout with teammates since injuring his right knee Dec. 28 against the Nashville Predators. He reported minor improvement, but his return to the lineup remains uncertain.

“It’s the longest I’ve been out there,” said Leclerc, who has 12 goals and 30 points in 40 games. “It’s probably the best I’ve felt. I just want to play. I’m sick of the bike and treatments.”

Team medical personnel believe Leclerc is suffering from an inflamed bursa. “They said the [medial collateral ligament] also showed a little strain on the MRI,” Leclerc said.