Earlier this month, the Oilers signed NHL veteran forward Kris Versteeg to a professional tryout contract.
Among the 61 players kicking off their 2016 training camp, Versteeg is one of 33 forwards that will be vying for a position on the Oilers roster come the start of the season.
"I'm excited to come in here and try out for the club and see what happens," he said.
The 30-year-old right-winger finished the 2015-16 season with the Los Angeles Kings, after starting the season with Carolina. Having appeared in 550 regular season NHL games over nine seasons with six different NHL teams, he finished with 131 goals, 182 assists for 313 points.
The Lethbridge, AB native has also appeared in 89 NHL playoff games, totalling 44 points (17G, 27A) and has won Stanley Cups with Chicago in 2010 and 2015.
Originally selected by the Boston Bruins in the 2004 NHL Draft in the fifth round, 134th overall, Versteeg said he is ready for the opportunity in front of him.
"I'm not going to go out there and try to do too much or do anything more than I know I can do," he said. "I know what kind of player I am, I know how good I am when I'm at the top of my game and it's just about going out there and showing them that I haven't lost the step, showing teams I can still play and I can still contribute, personally. Now it's just about going out there, staying within myself at the same time and trying to just prove that I can still play.
"I personally think I can play with anybody," he said with confidence. "It's something that I've had to do throughout my career is play with high-end talent… I know me and [Chicago Blackhawks forward] Patrick Kane played well together, and he's a guy that can think the game - arguably - better than anybody on Earth, so, I've enjoyed playing with guys of his calibre and different strengths as well. Whoever it may be, or whoever they want to try me with, I still feel I can play with anybody and try to contribute at that level."
Versteeg is ready for camp
