Two more Detroit Red Wings alumni signed professional tryout (PTO) deals Wednesday afternoon.
Forward Matt Luff, who spent signed the past two seasons in the Red Wings organization, signed a PTO with the Florida Panthers as reported by The Hockey News’ David Dwork. Defenseman Madison Bowey, a Red Wing from 2019 to 2020 who spent last season in the KHL, picked up a tryout from the New York Rangers, first reported by insider Rick Dhaliwal.
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Luff, 27, was a productive AHL forward in the Detroit organization. He scored 43 points in 54 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Before Detroit, Luff spent four years with Los Angeles and one with Nashville The Red Wings signed him to a one-year deal in 2022 after the Predators didn’t extend him a qualifying offer. He got into 19 NHL games in 2022-23, scoring four points in that span. This performance earned another one-year deal for last season, but Luff didn’t get into any NHL action as an upper-body injury kept him out of action for much of the season. His PTO with Florida is a chance to prove he can be useful depth for an NHL team.
Bowey was once thought to be a decent defense prospect for Detroit, acquired alongside a second round pick in a trade that sent blueliner Nick Jensen and a fifth round pick to Washington. He hasn’t played for the Red Wings in four years, having made stops in Chicago, Vancouver and Montreal‘s AHL affiliate before playing for three KHL teams last season. Similar to Luff, Bowey has a chance to prove his value to an NHL club with this tryout.
Including Luff and Bowey, seven former Red Wings have signed PTO agreements this season. Forwards Jakub Vrana, Sam Gagner, Adam Erne and Kailer Yamamoto as well as goaltender Michael Hutchinson complete the rest of the list.
All seven will get the chance to show their impact in training camps, which start next week.
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