Every year, the New Jersey Devils add a few players to training camp who have previous NHL experience. Some might even have previous contributions to good teams. These are players on what are called professional tryout agreements, better known as PTOs.
In the past, the Devils gave a few PTOs professional contracts at the end of training camp. We’ve seen former Devils stars return on PTOs, like Petr Sykora in 2011 and Scott Gomez in 2014. Other tryouts included Steve Bernier, who helped the Devils get to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012 (and then nothing else happened), Jimmy Vesey, who reinvigorated his career in New Jersey, and Lee Stempniak, who got them a second and fourth-round pick at the trade deadline.
This year, they have a chance to sign a few veterans to add to an interesting roster. While on paper , the roster is full, there are opportunities to give Sheldon Keefe and the Devils' front office a really hard decision.
1. Kevin Labanc
Last year, the Devils signed Kevin Labanc to a PTO, and he dominated. Labanc led all players in goals last preseason. We’re not talking just the PTOs; Labanc led all players with six goals last preseason.
Many thought he would be a no-brainer to sign for the Devils. He was fitting right in with Sheldon Keefe’s new system, but then the Columbus Blue Jackets came with an opportunity. They signed Labanc with an opportunity to play higher in the lineup, and he took it.
At the time, it looked like a big swing and miss by the Devils and Tom Fitzgerald. The GM got a huge win by taking a chance on someone who was really gelling with the roster. Then, he let a division rival swoop in and sign him.
Labanc didn’t do much in Columbus despite their surprise season. He finished the year with two goals and 10 assists and got injured 34 games in. Something didn’t click in Columbus, but it did work in New Jersey. For a PTO, what do the Devils have to lose to try it again?
2. Robby Fabbri
This one will take some convincing, so hear us out before judging. Robby Fabbri was absolutely awful last season. His production has never lived up to his talent, as injuries and other factors have prevented him from reaching his full potential. Last season, he provided nothing to the Anaheim Ducks.
On top of that, Fabbri is known as a terrible defensive forward. (I know, I’m doing a great job of convincing you.) However, Sheldon Keefe’s system is sink or swim when it comes to defense. He will either get it, or he won’t. The beauty of a PTO is if he doesn’t, then the Devils walk away from this with no commitment.
Fabbri has some offensive upside they could use on the bottom six. He is a season removed from scoring 18 goals in 68 games for the Detroit Red Wings. Even last season, he had eight goals in a 44-game season. The Devils would have loved to have someone with 15 goals in the bottom six last season.
3. Jon Merrill
We’ve seen the Devils in the past bring back old friends through PTOs later in their careers. Sometimes it works out, and other times it’s one last nostalgic goodbye. Here, the Devils get to try out Jon Merrill, the defenseman they lost in the original Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft. He turned into a good defensive defenseman.
Merrill is still a free agent, which is surprising. He was pretty good with the Minnesota Wild. However, this past season, he started getting edged out of the lineup. He only played two of the Wild’s six playoff games.
If Merrill is willing to take on a similar role, the Devils might want to give him a look. With Johnny Kovacevic expected to miss a significant portion of the season, adding more depth to the defense is not a bad thing. They have Simon Nemec, Seamus Casey, and Dennis Cholowski fighting for NHL minutes in Kovacevic’s absence, but adding someone defensive first, which is how Kovacevic plays, then it might be a smoother transition when Kovy returns.