WWYDW: Which NHL veteran would you most like to see on a tryout deal?
7 years ago
Professional tryout offers have arguably become a more
important tool in recent years for both general managers and players looking
for NHL employment. The salary cap is of course to blame, as GMs have had to
get better and better at using the money at their disposal, and as a result
have become more selective in signing players.
important tool in recent years for both general managers and players looking
for NHL employment. The salary cap is of course to blame, as GMs have had to
get better and better at using the money at their disposal, and as a result
have become more selective in signing players.
Lee Stempniak is the poster boy for how effective a PTO can
be. He signed with New Jersey after a strong training camp with the Devils last
season and produced in a major way for the team, even garnering a sizeable draft
pick return from Boston at the trade deadline.
be. He signed with New Jersey after a strong training camp with the Devils last
season and produced in a major way for the team, even garnering a sizeable draft
pick return from Boston at the trade deadline.
In this week’s edition of What Would You Do Wednesday, we
ask which remaining free agents Oilers fans would like to see in training camp
on a tryout deal.
ask which remaining free agents Oilers fans would like to see in training camp
on a tryout deal.
The following is not meant as a comprehensive list, but
rather as a starting point. If there is some other free agent you the reader
would like to see who isn’t included below, just let us know in the comments.
rather as a starting point. If there is some other free agent you the reader
would like to see who isn’t included below, just let us know in the comments.
- RW Brad Boyes. The
34-year-old Boyes spent last season in Toronto, putting up 24 points in limited
minutes. The one-time 40-goal scorer has always been primarily an offensive
specialist. - LD Christian Ehrhoff.
Another 34-year-old, Ehrhoff saw his stock fall in a difficult campaign
last year. At his best, he’s a fantastic puckmover with decent size, and he was
a successful part of Todd McLellan’s power play in San Jose. - RD Eric Gryba. A
familiar name for Oilers fans. Gryba plays a rugged style of hockey and fit in
well on the third pairing of last year’s team. - C Cody Hodgson. Once
a much-hyped prospect, injury and poor play are threatening to push Hodgson out
of the league. He’s only 26 and is a right-shooting centre; he had 44 points as
recently as 2013-14. - RD Jakub Nakladal. A
big, right-shooting defenceman, at age 28 Nakladal is a young veteran of
European hockey. He split last season between Calgary and the AHL, and might
fare better now that he has the North American adjustment under his belt. - G Karri Ramo. The
Oilers appear to be set in net, but it’s worth mentioning Ramo, who has played
30-plus games in each of the last three years and has been a reasonably good
backup goaltender. - C Mike Richards. Once
a star all-situations forward with Philadelphia, Richards declined sharply over
the course of his career in L.A. He had just five points in 51 combined games
over the season and playoffs for Washington last season and is probably looking
at his last chance to turn things around at the tender age of 31. - LD Dennis Seidenberg.
Seidenberg has played the right side, though the fact that he isn’t a right
shot or a particularly gifted puck mover makes him an odd fit for Edmonton. He
was a mainstay of Peter Chiarelli’s Bruins, though. - LW R.J. Umberger. Umberger
has spent time at centre (though not lately) and can play all three forward
positions. In his prime he was a two-way player who could contribute in all
areas of the game, but his scoring has dried up in recent seasons. - RW Kris Versteeg. Versteeg
scored 15 goals and 38 points last season, and has proved his value as a
secondary scorer on many NHL teams. The real question is perhaps whether the
right-shooting right wing would be open to anything less than a guaranteed
contract. - RD Marek Zidlicky. Sure,
he’s 39. But the right-shooting Zidlicky was a phenomenal offensive specialist
in his prime and is only one season removed from a 34-point campaign. As a
third-pair option and power play specialist, he might still be able to
contribute.
That brings us back to this week’s question. In Chiarelli’s
shoes, would you invite any of those players to training camp? Are there other free
agents not on the above list that you’d like to take a look at? Let us know below.
shoes, would you invite any of those players to training camp? Are there other free
agents not on the above list that you’d like to take a look at? Let us know below.
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