Training camps are achingly close on the horizon, which means that teams across the league are making some last-minute additions to their rosters to perhaps uncover a diamond in the rough.
In other words: It’s PTO season, baby!
This past weekend was filled with a flurry of professional tryout offers extended to multiple players still on the open market. So, let’s look at the most notable ones and determine what each team could get in their camp invitee.
But before that, take a look at Part 1.
Daniel Sprong – Seattle Kraken
2021-22 Stat Line: 63 GP, 14 goals, 6 assists, 20 points, 12:59 TOI
There was a time when Daniel Sprong looked like a future middle-six contributor at the NHL level.
That time has long since passed.
Sprong has bounced around for the past few years after beginning his career in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, spending stints with the Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, and, most recently, the Seattle Kraken. Neither stop saw the former second-round pick establish himself as the player he was pegged to be, but Sprong always found a way to chip in 10-15 goals whenever he managed to play over 45 games.
For a low price, that’s not terrible production, especially given that he managed to do it with very little ice time. Sprong isn’t a flashy addition by any stretch. But he does come cheap, has a nose for the net, and could be a fine worker bee on a contending team’s depth line. The Kraken aren’t quite there yet. But Sprong’s familiarity with the coaching staff and front office should help his cause for a contract.
Derick Brassard – Ottawa Senators
2021-22 Stat Line: 46 GP, 8 goals, 11 assists, 19 points, 12:55 TOI
Another PTO signee looking for a second tour of duty with a former team, Brassard enters Senators camp with the unfortunate distinction of being the central return in one of the worst trades in club history, headlining the package that came Ottawa’s way in exchange for Mika Zibanejad back in 2016.
The careers of both players have taken drastically different paths since then.
Zibanejad has blossomed into a legitimate superstar for New York. At the same time, Brassard struggled to remain a productive middle-six center and has since seen himself bounce around between seven different teams over the past 10 seasons.
Brassard most recently spent time with the Edmonton Oilers after being dealt by the Philadelphia Flyers at the trade deadline, appearing in 15 games for the club down the stretch…
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