Over the course of the offseason more and more players will accept invitations to join team training camps. Usually these are players trying to resurrect their career or to show that they have one or two more years left before retirement.
Making a team as an invitee is harder than just being one of the top-12 forwards or top-6 defensemen. Teams are usually looking for specific needs, such as a speedy second line forward or a defenseman who can eat minutes. Teams may want to save their bottom roster spots for developing prospects, so invitees risk being cut unless they meet a team’s identified need.
Here are the notable players who have been invited to training camps thus far. The list excludes players that are attending camps but are already signed to minor league contracts or prospects who are hoping to earn a minor league deal. Check here often for updates.
PTO TRACKER
Arizona Coyotes
Tyson Strachan
Buffalo Sabres
Cody Goloubef
Calgary Flames
Tanner Glass
Joseph Cramarossa
Chicago Blackhawks
Cody Franson
John Mitchell
Mark Stuart
Drew Miller
Colorado Avalanche
Jared Cowen
Dallas Stars
R. J. Umberger
Detroit Red Wings
David Booth
P.A. Parenteau
Edmonton Oilers
Chris Kelly
Florida Panthers
Nikolai Belov
Brandon Pirri
Harry Zolnierczyk
Los Angeles Kings
Shane Harper
Brooks Laich
Chris Lee
Andrei Loktionov
Brandon Prust
Minnesota Wild
Ryan Malone
Daniel Winnik
Montreal Canadiens
Eric Gelinas
Jordan Boucher
Maxime Fortier
Alexandre Goulet
James McEwan
New Jersey Devils
Jimmy Hayes
Tim Erixon
New York Rangers
Bobby Farnham
Ottawa Senators
Chris VandeVelde
Brendan Woods
Pittsburgh Penguins
Jay McClement
St. Louis Blues
Mike McKee
Ty Loney
Vancouver Canucks
Scottie Upshall
Ryan White
Washington Capitals
Alex Chiasson
Jyrki Jokipakka
Vegas Golden Knights
Nikolas Brouillard
Kenney Morrison
Scooter Vaughan
Bryce Gervais
Stephen MacAulay
Surprised about Umberger. You’d think he has more than a few years left in the tank.
Getting Pirri, Loktionov, and Lee on PTO’s all look to be high upside. Don’t see much anywhere else though
Hopefully some of these guys can keep their careers and dreams alive.Good luck to them all.