Top 3 intriguing forwards on PTO for 2021-22 training camps

Arizona Coyotes Sign Alex Galchenyuk to PTO

Speak of the devil, Galchenyuk’s existential stint in the remnants of free agency has come to an underwhelming and temporary end, inking a PTO with the team he was once thought to be the future of in the Arizona Coyotes. A former third overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Draft, Galchenyuk quickly established himself as a reliable offensive contributor in Montreal over his six seasons with the team, reaching career highs of 30-26-56 totals in the 2015-16 season. After posting a dreadful -31 rating in the 2017-18 season, however, the Canadiens looked to make a change, trading Galchenyuk to Arizona in a one-for-one for similarly struggling first-rounder Max Domi.

While Domi would go on to flourish in Montreal, eventually netting the Canadiens Josh Anderson in another one-for-one trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Galchenyuk turned in more of the same in Arizona, which has since been the norm for this once-top prospect. After being the principal part of another blockbuster deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Arizona receiving former 90-point threat Phil Kessel, Galchenyuk quickly fell into head coach Mike Sullivan’s doghouse, somewhere he hasn’t been able to escape in subsequent NHL stops in Ottawa, Carolina, Minnesota, and Toronto.

While his redemption act with the Maple Leafs looked to be progressing nicely, a blind no-look pass to Cole Caufield in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Canadiens quickly laid that to rest. Now back in Arizona, Galchenyuk is seemingly on his last legs regarding his NHL chances, with an overseas departure seemingly in the cards, whether that be in the KHL or elsewhere. While he’s still shown flashes of his elite offensive ability, with a lethal release, soft hands, and solid passing abilities, Galchenyuk’s immaturity, lack of work ethic, and off-ice issues continue to plague him and could likely spell the end of his short-lived NHL career.