Professional try-outs are in full swing. With many of the NHL‘s top stars taking part in the World Cup of Hockey, fringe NHLers could turn into a valuable commodity this year. As stipulated in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams must dress a minimum of eight NHL players in each contest.
If you don’t have a copy of the CBA handy, Section 15.4 (c) spells it out nicely:
A Club shall be permitted to dress a minimum of eight (8) veterans for any Exhibition Game. For purposes of this Section 15.4(c), a veteran shall constitute either: (1) a forward or defenseman who played in thirty (30) NHL Games during the previous season, (2) a goaltender who either dressed in fifty (50) or more NHL Games or played in thirty (30) or more NHL Games in the previous season, (3) a first round draft choice from the most recent year’s Entry Draft, or (4) any Player who has played one-hundred (100) or more career NHL Games. The matter of Player participation in Exhibition Games shall be referred to the NHL/NHLPA Competition Committee for its consideration and recommendations, if any, in accordance with Article 22.
According to reports, four players today committed to camps on PTO’s: Kris Versteeg, Zach Boychuk, Stephen Gionta, and Eric Nystrom. The chances to make a roster range from solid upgrade option to placeholder.
Kris Versteeg – Edmonton Oilers
Versteeg split the 2015-16 season between the Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings. He originally signed with SC Bern in the NLA but came to North America due to insurance complications or failing medical exams of some nature depending on which report, or a mixture the two, is correct.
Why Kris Versteeg's contract w/ Bern was terminated was not insurance issue, he didn't pass the medical, writes @NZZ https://t.co/OnKEw9DnYO
— Szymon Szemberg (@Sz1909_Szemberg) September 6, 2016
Kris Versteeg is about to be a free agent again. Due to insurance complications Versteeg is expected to return to North America this week.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) September 5, 2016
With the Oilers, Versteeg has a solid chance at earning a roster spot. He is only 30 and could help bolster depth on the right wing. The middle-six right side currently is filled with enigmatic Nail Yakupov and Zack Kassian, and even with his decreased production, outscored both Yakupov and Kassian last year.
Zach Boychuk – Arizona Coyotes
Boychuk is beyond the 100 game requirement, the majority of which came with the Hurricanes. Despite only 30 points in his career, Boychuck has been a decent possession player with a Corsi-for of 49.4 percent. The fourth line center could be attainable if Ryan White, Tyler Gaudet or whoever takes the fourth center job falters out in the desert.
Stephen Gionta – New York Islanders
The small right-handed center has played in 270 NHL games but only posted 50 points. Last year with the New Jersey Devils he appeared in all 82 games and recorded a goal and ten assists along with a career-worst 43.5 Corsi-for percentage. There is little upside left for the 32-year-old native of Rochester, New York.
Eric Nystrom – St. Louis Blues
The 2002 first round pick of the Calgary Flames played most recently with the Nashville Predators where Nystrom played a bottom-six role in Music City. After nearly 600 NHL games and 123 points, Nystrom is likely in St. Louis for a cup of coffee and not much else.
Main Photo
