NHL PTO tracker: Devante Smith-Pelly, Troy Brouwer among players signed to professional tryouts

Tommy McArdle

NHL PTO tracker: Devante Smith-Pelly, Troy Brouwer among players signed to professional tryouts image

For hockey fans, September means the return of NHL action — even if the month's schedule is only filled with training camps and preseason exhibition games. 

Every year, a number of league veterans who are without a home and could still offer some value sign professional tryout agreements allowing them to practice and play exhibition matches. Teams often sign players to PTOs to encourage competition between a veteran still trying to prove he belongs and younger prospects gunning to secure their first NHL job; many times it's just that — preseason competition.

Some players will eventually earn an NHL contract for their persistence, often as a depth addition to the roster — Lee Stempniak, skated with the Boston Bruins last year until February before the team signed him for the rest of the season. Alex Chiasson, who signed a new two-year deal on July 1 with Edmonton, was on a PTO last year before signing at the start of the regular season and had a career year.

Current Flames defenseman Brandon Davidson started off with Chicago last season on a PTO and Drew Stafford, who originally had a PTO with the Devils before signing a one-year deal, signed a PTO with Minnesota for this season.

Below are all the players who have been announced or are reportedly attending teams' 2019 training camps on PTOs.

Boston Bruins

NamePosition2018-19 team
Alex PetrovicDefenseEdmonton Oilers

Calgary Flames

NamePosition2018-19 team
Andrew MacDonaldDefensePhiladelphia Flyers
Devante Smith-PellyForwardWashington Capitals
Tobias RiederForwardEdmonton Oilers
Zac RinaldoForwardNashville Predators
Alexandre GrenierForwardLaval Rocket (AHL)
Eric GrybaDefenseNew Jersey Devils

Dallas Stars 

NamePosition2018-19 team
Stefan NoesenForwardNew Jersey Devils
Scottie UpshallForwardDid not play last season
Corey ElkinsForwardGrizzlys Wolfsburg (Germany)

Florida Panthers

NamePosition2018-19 team
Lance BoumaForwardGeneve-Servette (Switzerland)
Troy BrouwerForwardFlorida Panthers

Minnesota Wild

NamePosition2018-19 team
Drew StaffordForwardNew Jersey Devils
Olivier ArchambaultForwardSyracuse Crunch (AHL)
Gabe GagneForwardToronto Marlies (AHL)
Shawn O'DonnellForwardHartford Wolf Pack (AHL)
Brett PollockForwardStockton Heat (AHL)
Josh AtkinsonDefenseAllen Americans (ECHL)
Matt RegisterDefenseToledo Walleye (ECHL)
Keaton ThompsonDefenseSan Diego Gulls (AHL)

New York Islanders

NamePosition2018-19 team
Luca SbisaDefenseNew York Islanders

New York Rangers

NamePosition2018-19 team
Micheal HaleyForwardSan Jose Sharks
Joe MorrowForwardWinnipeg Jets
Connor BrickleyForwardNew York Rangers

Philadelphia Flyers

NamePosition2018-19 team
Chris StewartForwardNottingham Panthers (England)

Toronto Maple Leafs

NamePosition2018-19 team
Michal NeuvirthGoaliePhiladelphia Flyers
Matt ReadForwardIowa Wild (AHL)

Vancouver Canucks

NamePosition2018-19 team
Landon FerraroForwardIowa Wild (AHL)

Winnipeg Jets

NamePosition2018-19 team
Emile PoirierForwardManitoba Moose (AHL)

This post will be updated as more PTO signings are announced.

Tommy McArdle