Rumor: Edmonton Oilers To Sign A Defenseman To PTO Contract

According to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, the Edmonton Oilers are expected to sign a defenseman to a professional tryout contract for extra insurance. He notes that Michael Stone and Jason Demers seem like the biggest candidates.

If it's between Stone and Demers, neither would be bad options in the slightest. They each have a lot of NHL experience and there's no risk in signing them to a PTO. If things did not work out, all they would simply have to is not sign them to a contract.

Stone played 21 games last season with the Calgary Flames. In them, he scored two goals and recorded four points. He also was sent down to the Stockton Heat on a four-game stint and tallied two goals. Stone's best days in the NHL may be gone, but he could be a good option to have a depth defenseman. He has 493 games of experience between the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes and Flames.

Demers also is another veteran defenseman who would make sense for the Oilers to try. In 41 games last season with the Coyotes, he had four assists. He's another defenseman who has taken a bit of a step back, but would also be acceptable as a depth piece. His last strong year came during the 2017-18 season, where he had 20 points in 69 games. He did, however, have 11 assists in 50 games during 2019-20. Thus, maybe he could produce a little more this upcoming season if handed a contract.

We will have to wait and see if the Oilers give one of these two a shot on a PTO.