EDMONTON - Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers isn't guaranteed to be the Edmonton Oilers backup goalie this year even though he's paid his dues in the minors.

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Edmonton Oilers goalie prospect Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers makes a save against the Phoenix Coyotes in 2006.

Photograph by : Shaughn Butts/Edmonton Journal

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But the 24-year-old netminder, who was their second pick in the 2002 NHL draft, is banging hard on the door. He's played 97 games in the AHL the last two years (Wilkes-Barre and Springfield) with a 2.60 average and .911 save percentage. He's taken huge strides after battling injuries his first two pro seasons, which limited him to 54 games.

Of course, he has to contend with Dwayne Roloson, who turns 39 next month, and Mathieu Garon.

Drouin-Deslauriers can't be sent back to the minors, unless he clears waivers, and the Oilers, after investing four pro years and signing him to a new two-year contract this summer, may keep three goalies to start the season no matter how he plays in the exhibitions. But he'd rather make it on his own merit.

"He's got huge upside ... I may be a little biased, but in my eyes he was the best goalie in the American (Hockey) League last year," said Kelly Buchberger, the former Springfield Falcons head coach who's now on Craig MacTavish's staff. "With how young our team was, I'd say J.D. was our most valuable player. Great work ethic and great quickness. He battles, he never wants to get beat."

There's no time-frame on when goalies are ready to play in the NHL, as an understudy to the starter, or the No. 1 guy. Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy only had one year in the minors. Tom Barrasso and Grant Fuhr were in the NHL right after being drafted. Jean-Sebastien Giguere played 161 AHL games before he was an NHL backup, and wasn't a starter until he was 24. Miikka Kiprusoff didn't become an NHL No. 1 guy until he was 29.

"Coming out of junior, everybody wants to get to the show as quickly as possible," said Drouin-Deslauriers, who realized quickly he couldn't rush his education and has patiently made his way. "I think I'm ready this year to play in the NHL. Physically and mentally, I'm ready to be here. I think this is where I belong, now. I've done what I had to do in the minors, now I have to prove myself in the show."

The youngster has played half a dozen Oilers exhibition games, a few full-time games, and several 30-minute stints over the years. He's done a nice job, with his best outing a 1-0 loss to Minnesota several years back. But the Oilers have two veterans in Garon, who was very solid last year, and Roloson, who carried them down the stretch. But maybe it's time to see what the kid can do.

"Goalies get more of a grace period than forwards and defencemen (to develop)," said Buchberger. "You usually have to bide your time, but I think he could be a goalie of the future here."

He's tall (six-foot-four), something every team is looking for, a guy who doesn't leave much to shoot at. On the other hand, big doesn't always equate to good. How adept was John Grahame, who's now playing in Russia?

"When you're big,there's a feeling you cover more space, but if you're back in your net, you cover nothing," Drouin-Deslauriers said, laughingly.