Blackhawks Have 3 Good PTO Candidates to Consider

Several free agents are signing professional tryout (PTO) contracts around the NHL with preseason officially here. Chicago Blackhawks general manager (GM) Kyle Davidson would be wise to consider bringing a player on a PTO as well because it would create more much-needed competition at training camp. There are some pretty intriguing PTO candidates that the Blackhawks should consider pursuing and let’s look at why this is the case.

Tyler Ennis

Although the Blackhawks are rebuilding, Davidson has already shown this offseason that he is not afraid to bring in experienced NHL forwards through free agency. Andreas Athanasiou, Max Domi, and Colin Blackwell joined the team this offseason, but when looking at their forward group, there’s still room for improvement. As a result, I believe that they should sign Tyler Ennis to a PTO with training camp officially here.

Ennis spent this past season with the Ottawa Senators, where he had eight goals and 24 points in 57 games. Overall, it was a fairly decent campaign for the 32-year-old forward, but it hasn’t been enough for him to find a home for the 2022-23 season. Yet, he has the potential to provide an upgrade to the Blackhawks’ middle six, so he could be a good player to take a chance on. At worst, if he failed to impress at camp, Chicago could simply release him free of charge.

Truthfully, it is a little surprising that Ennis has yet to find a home after the season he just put together. Although he isn’t a star, he could be a good short-term investment for the Blackhawks. Furthermore, if he had a good season with Chicago, he also could be trade bait at the deadline. That would make this situation a complete win for the Blackhawks.

Kris Russell

With Jake McCabe out due to having cervical spine surgery, the Blackhawks have a spot available on the left side of their defense. Therefore, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for them to invite a defenseman to training camp on a PTO. In my opinion, one player who stands out from the current unrestricted free agents (UFA) is veteran defenseman, Kris Russell.

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In 31 games this past season with the Edmonton Oilers, Russell had two goals to go along with nine points. Although these offensive numbers aren’t the best, it’s important to note that the 35-year-old has made a career for himself as a defensive defenseman. With that, he is an elite…