Unsigned veteran players can earn a contract with an NHL team by impressing enough during training camp on a professional tryout contract (PTO). Camps have opened and the regular season begins Oct. 7.
The following notable players (listed alphabetically) are in an NHL camp on a PTO:
Robby Fabbri, F, Pittsburgh Penguins
The 29-year-old had 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 44 games for the Anaheim Ducks last season. Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the first round (No. 21) of the 2014 NHL Draft, he has 216 points (106 goals, 110 assists) in 442 regular-season games for the Blues, Detroit Red Wings and Ducks, and 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 30 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Fabbri was released from his tryout contract Oct. 4.
Luke Glendening, F, New Jersey Devils
The 36-year-old had seven points (four goals, three assists) in 77 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. An undrafted free agent, Glendening has 166 points (83 goals, 83 assists) in 864 regular-season games for the Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars and Lightning and 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 50 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Matt Grzelcyk, D, Chicago Blackhawks
The 31-year-old had 40 points (one goal, 39 assists) in 82 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. Selected by the Boston Bruins in the third round (No. 85) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Grzelcyk has 175 points (26 goals, 149 assists) in 527 regular-season games for the Bruins and Penguins and 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 66 playoff games.
Grzelcyk signed a one-year, $1 million contract Oct. 5.
Jack Johnson, D, Minnesota Wild
The 38-year-old had six assists in 41 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season. The No. 3 pick of the 2005 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, Johnson has 342 points (77 goals, 265 assists) in 1,228 games for the Los Angeles Kings, Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks. He has 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) in 57 playoff games and won the Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.
Johnson was released from his tryout contract Oct. 3.
Oliver Kylington, D, Carolina Hurricanes
The 28-year-old had five points (one goal, three assists) in 19 games with the Avalanche and Anaheim Ducks last season. Selected by the Calgary Flames in the second round (No. 60) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Kylington has 60 points (18 goals, 42 assists) in 220 regular season games with the Flames, Avalanche and Ducks, and three points (one goal, two assists) in 12 playoff games.
Kylington was released from his tryout contract Sept. 30.
Kevin Labanc, F, Carolina Hurricanes
The 29-year-old played 34 games for the Blue Jackets last season and had 12 points (two goals, 10 assists). A sixth-round pick (No. 171) by the San Jose Sharks at the 2014 NHL Draft, Labanc has 237 points (84 goals, 153 assists) in 512 regular-season games with San Jose and Columbus and 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 30 playoff games.
Labanc was released from his tryout contract Sept. 30.
Brett Leason, F, Minnesota Wild
The 26-year-old had 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 62 games for the Ducks last season. Selected by the Washington Capitals in the second round (No. 56) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Leason has 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) in 220 regular-season games with the Capitals and Ducks, and no points in one playoff game.
Leason was released from his tryout contract Sept. 30.
Milan Lucic, F, St. Louis Blues
The 37-year-old did not play last season after taking a leave of absence from the Boston Bruins in November 2023 and later entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He had two assists in four games in 2023-24. Boston's second-round pick (No. 50) in the 2006 NHL Draft, Lucic has 586 points (233 goals, 353 assists) in 1,177 regular-season games for the Bruins, Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Flames, and 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) in 136 playoff games. He won the Cup with the Bruins in 2011.
Tyler Motte, F, Florida Panthers
The 30-year-old had nine points (four goals, five assists) in 55 game for the Detroit Red Wings last season. Selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fourth round (No. 121) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Motte has 99 points (53 goals, 46 assists) in 455 regular-season games for the Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Red Wings and eight points (seven goals, one assist) in 44 playoff games.
James Reimer, G, Toronto Maple Leafs
The 37-year-old was 10-10-2 with a 3.04 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in 24 games (21 starts) for the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres last season. Reimer was selected by the Maple Leafs in the fourth round (No. 99) of the 2006 NHL Draft and played his first six NHL seasons for them, going 85-76-23 with a 2.84 GAA, .914 save percentage and 11 shutouts in 207 games. He also has played for the San Jose Sharks, Floria Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and Detroit Red Wings, going 225-187-65 with a 2.89 GAA, .910 save percentage and 31 shutouts in 525 regular-season games (479 starts) and 5-5 with a 2.70 GAA and .925 save percentage in 11 playoff games (10 starts).
Reimer was released from his tryout contract Oct. 6.
Kevin Rooney, C, New Jersey Devils
The 32-year-old had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 70 games for the Calgary Flames last season. An undrafted free agent, he has 60 points (32 goals, 28 assists) in 330 regular-season games for the Devils, New York Rangers and Flames and two assists in 15 playoff games.
Rooney signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 6. He'll earn $775,000 at the NHL level
Conor Sheary, F, New York Rangers
The 33-year-old had no points in five games with the Lightning last season. An undrafted free agent, he has 267 points (124 goals, 143 assists) in 593 regular-season games for the Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, Capitals and Lightning and 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 72 playoff games. Sheary won the Cup with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017.
Sheary signed a one-year contract Oct. 6.
Brendan Smith, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
The 36-year-old had six points (one goal, five assists) in 32 games with the Dallas Stars last season. A first-round pick (No. 27) by the Red Wings in the 2007 NHL Draft, Smith has 144 points (39 goals, 105 assists) in 726 regular-season games for the Red Wings, Rangers, Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils and Stars and 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 59 playoff games.
Smith was released from his tryout contract Sept. 28.
Givani Smith, F, Carolina Hurricanes
The 27-year-old did not have a point in 13 games with the Sharks and Avalanche last season. He was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on March 7 and had two points (one goal, one assist) in 10 games with Lehigh Valley, their American Hockey League affiliate. Selected by the Red Wings in the second round (No. 46) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Smith has 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in 168 games with the Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Sharks and Avalanche.
Smith signed a one-year, two-way contract Oct. 3. He'll earn $775,000 at the NHL level and $140,000 at the American Hockey League level.
