While September is generally known for the start of the preseason, it’s also informally referred to by some as PTO season in terms of unrestricted free agents finding a place to play. Usually, the first couple of weeks of the month see dozens of players ink professional tryout agreements, or PTO deals. Quite a few of those players are vying for an NHL contract after free agency didn’t yield the deal they were hoping for. Others will be hoping to secure two-way pacts and avoid needing to look overseas for a guaranteed agreement.
Traditionally, a normal preseason ran the better part of three weeks with up to nine games. For veterans hoping to get a one-way deal, there was also some use to the signing team, who could then count toward the minimum of eight required to dress for each preseason game. Basically, here’s a chance to showcase yourself and now we don’t have to play our own veterans as much. The system worked for both player and team, even though few typically were converted to full contracts.
But now, the system is much different. As part of the agreement to expand the regular season from 82 to 84 games, teams are now capped at a maximum of four preseason games. (One exception is if there’s a special one-off event game like Hockeyville; teams in those are allowed to play five.) In addition, players who have played 100 or more NHL games are capped at a maximum of two preseason appearances.
That restriction on playing time for veterans makes it considerably less appealing to bring one in. It’s one thing when you could give a player five or six games and a couple of weeks of practices to see how he fits in a couple of different roles. It’s an entirely different thing when you’re now capped at a shorter number of practices and all of two games to evaluate how a player fits in your lineup. There’s not much of a chance for a player to showcase themselves; deciding on his candidacy for a contract is more about his track record than how things are going a week and a half into training camp.
Effectively, the evaluation time in much shorter to the point where some might not bother altogether, preferring to give a prospect an extra look instead. With several teams in spots where they may have to waive a youngster of note for the first time if he doesn’t make the team, they arguably may be better suited going that approach than bring a player on a tryout in.
This isn’t to say that there won’t be PTO agreements signed in the coming days. We’ve already seen a few and more will be coming, especially for those hoping to secure a two-way deal. But it wouldn’t be surprising to see some veterans who would typically be inking PTOs either settling for a near-minimum contract now or holding out in the hopes of securing one, knowing that a couple of preseason games won’t materially affect their value. With preseason games now just two weeks away, we won’t have to wait long to see if the new preseason rules affect PTO season.