Alex Stalock
was claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Wild on Monday.
The goalie has not played this season because of an upper-body injury sustained before training camp but was skating with the Wild.
Stalock told The Athletic on Monday that he was diagnosed with myocarditis -- an inflammation of the heart muscle -- after testing positive for COVID-19 in November.
"Now that it's cleared up and knowing that this was something that potentially should go away with rest and letting your heart come back and not stressing it, that was good news last month and helped mentally," Stalock told the website. "But it is crazy that, 'Holy cow, this is how your career ends in Minnesota.' You just wish it would have ended differently, but it's just business. I'm just glad I'm healthy again and have an opportunity to go play in Edmonton."
Stalock set personal NHL-bests last season in wins (20), shutouts (four), starts (36) and games played (38), and is 61-49-18 with a 2.61 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and nine shutouts in 151 NHL games.
"You look at the number of starts he had last year, [general manager Ken Holland] and his staff thought he was a good insurance policy for us," Oilers coach Dave Tippett said. "I think it's a good pickup."
Oilers goalies Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen, who have started 22 of Edmonton's 23 games this season, have combined for a .912 save percentage.
Edmonton plays the Toronto Maple Leafs at home Monday (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SN1, SNO, SNW, NHL.TV). -- Derek Van Diest, independent correspondent