NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs - Source: Imagn — James van Riemsdyk could be a worthwhile PTO signing for the Philadelphia Flyers (Image Source: IMAGN)

3 PTO signings Philadelphia Flyers may consider before preseason

Modified Sep 11, 2024 17:35 GMT

The Philadelphia Flyers are coming off yet another season that saw them finish on the outside looking in at the Stanley Cup Playoffs, extending their drought to four years.

Now that training camp is just over one week away, Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere could still be considering any options that would allow him to improve the roster before they hit the ice for their first exhibition matchup on Sept. 22 against the Washington Capitals.

The Flyers will be relying on their core group of players which includes Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett and Travis Sanheim while hoping for a bounce-back performance from captain Sean Couturier.

Currently, a handful of free-agent players are still available to be signed on the open market. Here's a closer look at three PTO options that Briere and the Flyers could consider before preseason begins on Sept. 18.

3 PTO signings Philadelphia Flyers may consider before preseason

#3. Mike Hoffman

Not many years removed from being a reliable threat to hit the 50-point mark, the former Ottawa Senators forward has seen a steady decline in his statistical output in recent seasons.

He reached a career-high 70 points as a member of the Florida Panthers in 2019-20 but has since bounced around the NHL with stops playing for the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks. While playing with the basement-dwelling Sharks in 2023-24, Hoffman managed 10 goals and 13 assists in 66 regular season games played.

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Hoffman could present an intriguing opportunity to a team willing to take a waiver on his services considering he'll be motivated to prove that he can still play at a high level.

A professional tryout offer from the Flyers could present a low-risk, high-reward arrangement for both parties, one that could easily be closed should he not do enough to impress before the regular season begins.

Hoffman has played in 745 career games so far, scoring 228 goals and 259 assists while also adding another 11 goals and nine assists in 33 career postseason games.

#2. Kevin Labanc

A former mainstay on the Sharks, Kevin Labanc reached a career-best 56 points (17 goals, 39 assists) during the 2018-19 regular season while following that up with another nine points in 20 postseason games.

However, like Hoffman, Labanc's statistical output has experienced a decline in recent years. While he managed 33 points in 72 games in 2022-23, he reached only nine points during last year's injury-shortened campaign.

A motivated Labanc could provide a bottom-six presence for the Flyers and wouldn't be an expensive asset, provided that he can stay healthy.

In 478 total NHL games, all with the Sharks, Labank has 225 points through 82 goals and 143 assists.

#1. James van Riemsdyk

A former Flyers member and teammate of Briere's in his own right, James van Riemsdyk has already completed two tours of duty in the City of Brotherly Love that began when they made him the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft.

He's coming off a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins, playing in 71 regular season games in 2023-24 while scoring 11 goals and 27 assists; adding another goal and four assists in 11 postseason games.

While his best years may be behind him, van Riemsdyk could still provide veteran leadership and depth along with a physically imposing presence that makes him a hassle standing in front of opposition goaltenders.

Last season saw van Riemsdyk eclipse the milestone of 1,000 career NHL games played, scoring 629 points through 311 goals and 318 assists. He also added 21 goals and 15 assists in 82 career postseason games.