The Edmonton Oilers are rumored to be targeting three free agents for professional tryout contracts (PTO). This rumor comes from the same people behind the Connor McDavid contract extension rumor a few days ago.
If signed, the PTO contracts would be for two forwards and one goaltender. The forwards would likely be to round out the depth while the goaltender could be one of a number of once highly regarded reclamation projects in net. There
Although we are well into August, the NHL free agent market still has quite a few potential contributors. It is around this time, leading into training camp where teams have limited contract slots — with teams having a maximum of 50 — and limited cap space.
This is when PTO contracts become popular, as teams can bring in unsigned players to attend their training camp, evaluating them up close and personal and getting to see how they mesh within their system and with their personnel.
There are a number of players that could fit the Oilers needs, especially up front with a lot of players who bring a variety of skillsets to the table.
Forward Targets
There is not much to work off of based on the rumor that was posted on X earlier from a reputable podcast show, the 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast.
Looking at the available free agents, there is a variety of players on the market that have been left unsigned. These players could fill a variety of roles, from depth scoring middle-six forwards to fourth line grinders.
If the Oilers are looking for a player to provide scoring depth, there are multiple options available. Players like: Victor Olofsson, Robby Fabbri, Daniel Sprong, and Kevin Labanc have the potential to provide great value with their level of production. These players all rank well in terms of points per 60 (points/60) at 5-on-5 (evolving-hockey.com), which helps to standardize scoring to control for games played and usage. Max Pacioretty could be a good veteran option to fill this role as well.
Although to keep in mind, in recent years, both Fabbri, 29 and Pacioretty, 36 especially have struggled to stay healthy. The former underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last fall and the latter missing most of the 2022-23 season with injury after tearing his achilles tendon a second time and has not hit the 50-game mark on a season since 2019-20. Still, on a PTO contract, they could be worth a look at camp and could provide some scoring depth.
Sprong, 28, was once a very promising prospect but has become a bit of a journeyman in his career, bouncing from one destination to the next and going up and down between the NHL and AHL. There rumors of him having attitude problems and despite his prolific scoring abilities, a lack of commitment to the defensive side of the ice.
Olofsson and Labanc seem like the safest options at 30 and 29 years old, respectively. They can both provide some legitimate scoring ability and despite dry spells, no real major flaws in terms of their defense and locker room problems -- that we are aware of at least. Olofsson specifically, was a well regarded triggerman who was seemingly money in the bank for 20 or more goals a season (hockey-reference.com). Labanc although not as consistent, proved to be a capable winger in the San Jose Sharks middle-six for years until falling out of favor.
Then there are true depth options, players who can kill penalties and fill-in on fourth line roles, providing some forechecking ability and play with the grit and intensity that many coaches covet amongst their low rank forwards. These are: Luke Kunin, Klim Kostin, Brett Leason, Matt Nieto, and Noah Gregor.
Kunin, 27, was a once high ranked prospect, but has not lived up to the hype, with a career high of only 31 points through 63 games in 2019-20 with the Minnesota Wild. Kunin has mostly found himself as a bottom-six forward, logging minutes on the penalty kill and capable of taking draws, while playing with an edge.
Klim Kostin fits a similar bill as the 26 year old was once a prospect held in high regard, but now finds himself playing mostly as a fourth line winger using his large 6'4 230lbs frame to throw the body. Fans of the Oilers wil llikely remember Kostin, as he had a successful stint with the club in 2022-23, setting career highs (11 goals, 10 assists, 21 points in 56 games).
Leason, 25, possesses power forward size at 6'5 220lbs but does not play like a power forward at all, he does however have some underrated scoring abilities as a depth winger, amassing 39 points through 130 games over the past two seasons. He also has logged a healthy number of minutes on the penalty kill, providing excess value there.
Nieto and Gregor are two veterans (32 and 27 years old respectively) who play a high energy worker bee style of game. They forecheck hard and pressure opponents using quick feet and their bodies. They are also both capable of chipping in and providing secondary scoring at times.
Goalie targets
Between the pipes, there are a few NHL caliber options but arguably the two most attractive players available are two Russian goalies who would be reclamation projects at this stage of their careers. Ilya Samsonov, 28 and Alexandar Georgiev, 29 were both expected to be in the next wave of great netminders from Russia but have not lived up to that billing.
Both goaltenders have shown flashes of phenomenal play but with Samsonov averaging an .890 save percentage over the last two seasons (69 games) and with Georgiev averaging an .875 save percentage between both the Colorado Avalanche and Sharks in 48 games last year, their careers are on a downward spiral. However, given the potential of either one, they do make sense to give PTO contracts to and could be good bets to make while their value is at rock bottom.
The last main option left on the open market is 37 year old veteran goalkeeper, James Reimer who has played 525 NHL games over his career, most recently with the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres this past season posting an .896 save percentage through 24 games. He could help to provide some stability to the crease but with only 11 playoff games under his belt -- despite an impressive .925 save percentage -- Reimer likely would not be a desirable target, given the Oilers Stanley Cup aspirations.