NHL Free Agents: 5 Professional Tryout Offer (PTO) Fits
By Ryan Ritchie
NHL Free Agents: Exploring 5 Good Fits on a Professional Tryout Offer (PTO)
Defenseman James Wisniewski was the first of remaining NHL free agents to sign a professional tryout offer (PTO) with Tampa Bay. Several players are still hoping to follow suit with Antoine Vermette and Radim Vrbata who both signed contracts earlier this week, but time is running out for FA’s to find a new home.
Between now and the start of training camp, we should see a fair number of PTOs handed out. It’s become an increasingly popular option for teams to get a look at veterans without having any contractual obligation.
How does a veteran find themselves in a PTO scenario? They’re usually coming off a very disappointing season, either due to production or injury.
Lee Stempniak is the perfect example from 2015. He was coming off two poor seasons and was given one last opportunity to re-establish himself on a tryout with New Jersey. He not only managed to rebound, but earned the Devils assets at the trade deadline.
Today, we’re going to explore the best fit for five remaining NHL free agents on a professional tryout offer (PTO) – should they go unsigned of course.
NHL Free Agents: Best Fit on a PTO
D Kyle Quincey
Fit: New Jersey Devils
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GM Ken Holland sacrificed a 1st round pick to acquire Quincey, gave him a hefty contract, and saw significant ice-time, only to let him walk without an offer.
He might not be the same player from those peak years in Los Angeles and Colorado, but he’s still a capable depth defenseman.
With John Moore and Jon Merrill sitting beneath Andy Greene on the depth chart for LHD in New Jersey, Quincey could make for a decent third/fourth option on the left side. At worst, he can be their number seven in the press box filling in when needed.
RW David Jones
Fit: Carolina Hurricanes
There are several question marks surrounding the Hurricanes heading into 2016-17. It’s a murky depth chart to make sense of with various potential line combinations.
The reason David Jones is a perfect fit in Carolina is his ability to slide up and down the lineup. You can’t ask him to play too big of a role for a long period of time, but he’s the type of player that can help fill holes in a roster.
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D Barret Jackman
Fit: Dallas Stars
His game has admittedly regressed in recent years, so Jackman would be strictly a depth option in Dallas.
The Stars might think to add depth with so much uncertainty in how the younger core will perform (i.e. Stephen Johns, Esa Lindell, Julius Honka, etc.). Jackman is also the type of veteran presence who can bring experience to the group.
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C Mike Richards
Fit: Arizona Coyotes
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Richards underwhelmed in his return to the NHL posting five points in 39 games down the stretch for Washington, going pointless in 12 postseason contests.
To be fair, he was away from the game for quite some time due to his legal issues and contested buyout by the NHLPA.
So why should Arizona invite a 31-year-old center to training camp after buying out 34-year-old Antoine Vermette? Simple, there’s no contractual obligation.
The space was created because GM John Chayka believes top prospects Dylan Strome and Christian Dvorak are likely NHL ready – but what if they’re not? What happens if the pair stroll into camp and disappoint? The best thing Arizona can do is sign another veteran center on a PTO just in case.
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C Brandon Pirri
Fit: Columbus Blue Jackets
Tough to take Jarmo seriously these days. Upon trading Ryan Johansen, he proclaimed that Boone Jenner and Alexander Wennberg were capable of filling the void up the middle. That failed.
Fast forward to the NHL Draft, Kekalainen selects for position opposed to best available player, passing on fellow countrymen Jesse Puljujarvi. Instead of solidifying the right side for the next 15 years (along with Oliver Bjorkstrand), Blue Jackets GM picked a player that he thinks is the future number one center.
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Odd that scouts say he plays his best on the left-side as a winger without all the extra responsibility. For Jarmo’s sake, he better hope that he’s right – those are the type of bold moves that cost people jobs.
Columbus did recently sign Sam Gagner, which fills a need up the middle. Pirri could make for a decent option behind Gagner on the depth chart in case of injury or performance issues, and serve as a left-winger the majority of time. The keyword to winning in the NHL nowadays is depth, and who knows, at 24-years-old, there might be another level to Pirri’s game.