While attending a Los Angeles Kings game and watching Marty McSorley receive five minutes for fighting, a band name was struck. Kailer Yamamoto [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA5MTAwNDg0MTQ3OTQ3MzY0/usatsi_22331772.jpg] Kailer Yamamoto With training camp fast approaching, NHL teams have begun offering professional tryouts to some of the remaining free agents in an effort to create some on-ice competition and potentially fill out their roster for the upcoming season. Some of the most recent PTO offers include Michael Hutchinson and Jakub Zboril with the New Jersey Devils, Tyson Barrie with the Calgary Flames and Steven Lorentz with the Toronto Maple Leafs. While it's rare that players end up being significant contributors after being offered a PTO, there have been a few success stories over the years. After a strong training camp and preseason earned Lee Stempniak a one-year $850,000 contract with the New Jersey Devils, the then 32-year-old put up 51 points in the 2015-16 season. More recently, Daniel Sprong, now a member of the Vancouver Canucks, posted a career-high 21 goals and 46 points through 66 games with the Seattle Kraken in the 2022-23 season after entering training camp without a contract. Let's explore some of the remaining free agents and see who could end up being the next best PTO signing. MIKE HOFFMAN Hoffman is no stranger to fighting for a roster spot, signing a PTO in December of 2020 with the St. Louis Blues after a 29-goal, 59-point season with the Florida Panthers. As a free agent once again, Hoffman deserves an opportunity to prove his worth in the final weeks of the off-season. The 34-year-old finished with 10 goals and 23 points last season on an abysmal San Jose Sharks roster. While his days of being a consistent 20-30 goal scorer are behind him, it's more likely that he's capable of producing at a 15-goal, 35-point level as he showed over the previous three seasons between St. Louis and Montreal. There are a lot of teams that should be willing to take a shot on Hoffman, even as a potential pump-and-dump at the 2025 trade deadline. With power play skills and a history of consistent scoring, there's a world where he can re-establish himself as a cost-effective complimentary winger that would be an attractive asset to playoff teams. BLAKE WHEELER One of the most intriguing names left on the free agency board is Blake Wheeler. After being bought out by the Winnipeg Jets in the final season of his five-year, $41.25 million contract last summer, he signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers and recorded nine goals and 21 points in 54 games. Despite his struggles in New York, the 38-year-old winger is just one year removed from a 55-point campaign in his final season as a Jet. Barring any injuries, Wheeler could be reignited as a middle-six contributor in the right situation and would provide a leadership presence to a lot of NHL rosters. It's also worth noting that Wheeler has been open about contemplating retirement. With 943 points in 1,172 games across 16 seasons, it's safe to say that he'd go down as one of the best American-born players of all-time if he does decide to call it quits. KAILER YAMAMOTO The Spokane, Washington native had a disappointing 2023-24 season, recording just eight goals and eight assists in 59 games with the Seattle Kraken. While the output is underwhelming, some circumstances suggest Yamamoto has more to offer at the NHL level. The past few years have been a whirlwind for the 25-year-old. Yamamoto went from being a 20-goal scorer on a competitive Edmonton Oilers team in the 2021-22 season, to being traded to and bought out by the Detroit Red Wings the following season, to most recently averaging a career-low 11:59 of ice time per game in Seattle. Compared to Hoffman and Wheeler, Yamamoto feels like the best buy-low candidate on this list given his age. A change of scenery and a greater opportunity to make an impact might be all it takes for the 5-foot-8 winger to reach his full potential.
