The Boston Bruins caught lightning in a bottle final season once they signed Danton Heinen to knowledgeable tryout (PTO). This marked a return to the Bruins for Heinen, a fourth-round choose by the workforce in 2014. This PTO ultimately led to a one-year contract for Heinen, who would outperform his $775,000 deal by nearly each metric. He turned that one-year prove-it deal right into a sizeable pay increase this offseason when signing a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks. What many individuals don’t point out is that the Bruins additionally introduced in Alex Chiasson on a PTO final offseason. Although the workforce didn’t signal him to a contract, it was nonetheless value a spot in camp to see if there was a match between participant and group.
When the Bruins signed Tyler Johnson to a PTO on Saturday, many instantly drew parallels to the Heinen state of affairs. It’s honest to attach the dots, particularly contemplating the Bruins would have a lot success with Heinen simply final season. It’s additionally cheap, nevertheless, to invest that the Bruins may nonetheless be open to bringing in additional our bodies to camp on PTOs in the event that they really feel there are good alternatives out there on the open market. That is the place a participant like Blake Wheeler comes into play.
On the floor, this may sound like a little bit of a stretch. Wheeler, a former Bruins ahead, spent the 2023-24 season with the New York Rangers and scored 9 targets and 21 factors in 54 video games. Sadly for Wheeler, his season was reduce quick as a result of a major leg damage in February, which stored him out of motion for the rest of the common season and all however one postseason contest.
Factoring in his leg damage, his accelerated age at 38 years previous and feedback made following the Rangers’ elimination from the Jap Convention Last about eager to be round for his three youngsters throughout their childhood, and it’s unclear if Wheeler even desires to go well with up for one more sport within the NHL. On the identical time, the veteran hasn’t formally introduced his retirement from hockey and may nonetheless be exploring choices.
Associated: Bruins Signing Tyler Johnson to a PTO Is a Good Addition
Wheeler May Present Insurance coverage for the Bruins
Although he had a down season in his lone 12 months with the Rangers, Wheeler has persistently been wonderful with the Winnipeg Jets, even throughout his later years with the workforce. Availability has turn into considerably of a problem for Wheeler, who suited up in 71, 50, 65, 72 and 54 video games within the final 5 seasons respectively. Nonetheless, his potential to attain upwards of 15-20 targets and produce at practically a point-per-game fee shouldn’t be discounted. Whether or not his offensive manufacturing with the Rangers was the exception or the rule is unclear, however that is what makes a PTO such a helpful device for groups to discover.
If Wheeler nonetheless desires to check the waters and discover the potential for one more NHL season, what higher place to do it than with the workforce he broke out with again in 2008 as a rookie? For Wheeler, it will be an opportunity to get again on the ice with out absolutely committing to a different full season. For the Bruins, this might be a possibility to see what Wheeler nonetheless has to supply whereas additionally offering one other veteran physique to compete out of coaching camp. In a camp that may closely characteristic Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell competing for roster spots, having veteran fallback choices like Wheeler or Johnson could possibly be invaluable if both or each rookies are unable to say a roster spot for opening night time
For a lot of, the thought of bringing in a 38-year-old to compete with gamers of their early 20s might not seem to be the very best technique. On the identical time, it is a results-driven enterprise, and whereas basic supervisor Don Sweeney and co. would love for his or her younger gamers to leap into big-time roles as quickly as doable, it’s by no means a nasty concept to have an insurance coverage coverage in place simply in case. There aren’t any ensures with PTOs, solely alternatives. For the Bruins, Wheeler, Johnson, and another participant the workforce might look to usher in on a PTO, these alternatives may go a good distance.
