The Edmonton Oilers made a shock transfer by signing 34-year-old ahead Mike Hoffman to an expert tryout (PTO) forward of coaching camp. Whereas some speculated the timing of this announcement could be associated to information of Evander Kane present process surgical procedure, trusted sources affirm that this isn’t the case.
Actually, his PTO in Edmonton might need little or no to do with him making the Oilers roster in any respect. As an alternative, it could be a singular “commerce” with Hoffman’s agent, one that’s extra based mostly on the notion, ‘You scratch my again, I’ll scratch yours.’
In response to Frank Seravalli of Each day Faceoff, the Oilers introduced Hoffman into camp after ahead Carl Berglund suffered an harm through the Younger Stars Basic in Penticton, B.C. The transfer permits Edmonton to take care of camp numbers as deliberate, whereas permitting Hoffman to showcase his expertise in hopes of securing a roster spot. On the very least, a powerful couple of preseason video games may get him observed by one other group.
For the Oilers, they don’t have to regulate something when it comes to their numbers. For Hoffman and his agent, there isn’t a higher group during which to position a scorer who wants to supply in a brief period of time to get observed.
Hoffman Has A Stable Resume, However He Wants Favor From Oilers
Hoffman, a fifth-round choose within the 2009 NHL Draft by the Ottawa Senators, has performed 745 video games in his NHL profession, accumulating 228 objectives and 259 assists. Nonetheless, after recording simply 23 factors in 66 video games with the San Jose Sharks final season, there are issues about whether or not Hoffman can nonetheless contribute at a excessive degree.
In the meantime, the Oilers roster is stuffed with elite-level offensive expertise. It’s the sort of surroundings the place Hoffman can excel. At worst, he’ll be capable to reveal what he nonetheless has to offer with good gamers. The Oilers don’t essentially wish to add one other older participant to their roster. As one of many oldest groups within the league, Edmonton wants pace. However, to have somebody to fill in for an injured prospect, Hoffman works. Whether or not that’s Berglund or Roby Jarventie isn’t actually essential.
The blokes over at Oilers Nation advised this PTO was a favor to Hoffman’s agent. Like a trade-off, the expectation {that a} favor could be coming down the highway.
That is concerning the Oilers serving to out Hoffman and his agent. In trade, that very same agent will assist the Oilers down the road. If Hoffman occurs to wow and really earns a job out of camp, all the higher.
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