The Edmonton Oilers, for the first time in recent memory, are going to being using the PTO tool this training camp to add talent to the organization. According to many in the Edmonton media, the Oilers have already extended a PTO to D Eric Gryba and have extended an offer to an unnamed center.
Many have speculated that the center is Mike Richards, whom the Oilers had interest in this past season, but nothing has been confirmed.
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal touched on the subject here, naming Richards, David Legwand and Stephen Gionta as possible PTO options for the club.
Eric Gryba:
Matheson, in the above linked article, confirms that the club has extended a PTO to Gryba, who played this past season with the Oilers.
Chiarelli said the team has offered a tryout to free-agent defenceman Eric Gryba, who played 53 games last season until damaging his knee. The Oilers want to see how younger defencemen Griffin Reinhart, David Musil, Jordan Oesterle and Darnell Nurse fare before committing to Gryba on a new deal.
I think bonus money will keep Reinhart in the AHL to start the season, while I’m not sure it’s in Oesterle’s best interest to sit in the pressbox as the seventh defender (He’s waiver exempt and could play a huge role in Bakersfield).
As for Musil and Nurse, there is the possibility that both could make the roster, but I find that unlikely at this point. Musil, as good as he was at the AHL level, did not earn a call-up and Nurse, who is still a good young defender, struggled to adapt as a rookie last year.
Having depth is key, especially depth that can step in when injuries hit the NHL depth chart.
Gryba is a shut-down defender who brings a physical style and who defends exceptionally well. Sure, his offense is lacking and he isn’t the best puck-mover, but he’s solid in his own end and is serviceable on the PK. As a sixth or seventh defender, Eric Gryba does in fact have value.
I’d be very much in favor of bringing Gryba in on a PTO, and would not be opposed to signing him as the club’s seventh defender.
Mystery Center:
Back on August 28th, Bob Stauffer tweeted the following, which appears to be a hint that the team is looking to extend a PTO to a center.
Oilers will have 3 C’s (McDavid, Draisaitl, RNH) at World Cup. Don’t be surprised if Oilers invite a C in on PTO for training camp
— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) August 28, 2016
Just a few days ago, on August 31st, Jim Matheson wrote the following in the Edmonton Journal (piece linked above).
“We’ve extended an offer to one centre but haven’t heard back and may offer another,” said Chiarelli, who wouldn’t name names.
David Legwand, most recently of the Buffalo Sabres and who’s played more than 1,100 National Hockey League games, two-time Stanley Cup winner Mike Richards and Stephen Gionta, formerly of the New Jersey Devils, are the most obvious unrestricted free-agents looking for work as fourth-line centres or 13th or 14th forwards.
The most interesting part of this is that Chiarelli actually confirmed that the Oilers extended an offer to a free agent center. The way he has been talked about by not just Matheson, but many connected media personnel around town, leads me the believe that Mike Richards is in fact the guy who has been offered.
I like Richards, who in his prime was a solid two-way center. That said, his prime years are behind him and offensively he has been a non-factor the past two seasons. In just 39 tilts a season ago, Richards posted 2-3-5 for the Capitals, which followed a campaign of 5-11-16 in 53 games for the Kings in 2014-15.
Is Mike Richards better than Anton Lander? Offensively, I think he is, but at this stage of his career I have legit questions about Richards’ ability to contribute in the NHL. I think Lander is, at this stage, a better defensive player and actually a more valuable end of roster forward than Richards is.
David Legwand, who scored just 5-9-14 in 79 tilts a year ago, would be my choice from the trio that Matheson named. He’s still strong defensively and while 14 points isn’t anything to write home about, it’s not a bad total from a 13th or 14th forward.
Final Thoughts:
At this point, I’d be surprised if someone offered Eric Gryba a contract, so I expect we will see him attend camp on a PTO. Personally, I think he’s a perfect fit as the seventh defender for the club and would be willing to bring him back for another season. At this point, I’d label that scenario as likely.
As for the center addition, I suspect Mike Richards is the target, but I’d be hesitant to bring him on board. At this stage of his career, Richards is more of a name than anything, his best days are well behind him and his production doesn’t warrant a role larger than depth forward.
That said, the Oilers were looking at centers this summer so it should come as no surprise, World Cup or not, that Chiarelli is looking to add a veteran body for training camp. I think it’s fairly certain that a current UFA center will be coming to camp in a few weeks, and the smart money is on it being Mike Richards.
Whether or not that is a smart decision is still to be answered.
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