Mike Hoffman has made close to $43 million over his 745 NHL games but today he’s on the unemployment line, looking for work like so many players on training camp tryouts, hoping to keep the hockey dream, although flickering, still alive.
When the Edmonton Oilers practised Tuesday, Hoffman was skating with the group of farmhands, not with the NHLers. Defenceman Travis Dermott, also on a PTO was with the main group, in part to fill out the quota of D for drills. But Hoffman, who turns 35 in late November, wasn’t because, well, it’s awfully crowded at forward.
Will he do enough to get a contract, even if it’s a two-way deal, with a hefty minor-league salary in Bakersfield and a league minimum if in the NHL? He’s played the first two exhibitions with a goal and an assist and will reportedly get another shot in Winnipeg on Wednesday, so nobody can say he’s being short-changed. But right now, it looks like there is one forward spot open if the Oilers go with 13 F to start the season.
That 13th forward might be a role player, a penalty-killer, an extra centre, or maybe a right-hander to go with Derek Ryan. Hoffman is a shooter, with 228 career goals.
He knows the score but this is where he signed his PTO, on an offensive team that got to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final last June. It seems a daunting task for Hoffman, who had 23 points in San Jose last season, on the team that got the No. 1 pick in the lottery, but, he’s soldiering on.
He’ll try to make the Oilers, but he’s maybe auditioning for other teams, too. There are NHL pro scouts in press boxes all through the exhibition season.
“It’s another training camp, you come in and try to get the kinks out from over the summer, get yourself in game shape as quick as you can,” said Hoffman, who has played for Ottawa, Florida, St. Louis, and the Sharks.
It’s infinitely harder, without a contract, though.
More daily sweating, looking at line combinations, playing, not playing.
“Obviously it’s a bit different, you don’t have one of the seats in the room,” conceded Hoffman, “but I came out there to showcase what I’m capable of, and take it from there.”
“There were conversations over the summer as free agency rolled on and this one (tryout) was available. This was a great opportunity, that’s why I’m here,” he said. “It’s a great hockey team, you saw how they did last year, how they play and I think that fits my game well.”
It does and Hoffman could be insurance in case Jeff Skinner or Viktor Arvidsson, ticketed to play with Leon Draisaitl, got hurt and they needed another veteran offensive guy. But, they also have farmhand Raphael Lavoie in the mix.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch is giving him a good shot, though.
“He’s played the first two games. He’s going another one, maybe two more,” said Knoblauch.
This ‘n that
- Knoblauch’s job is to pick his best 19 or 20 skaters to start the season, no matter contract situations or waiver eligibility on players. Lavoie and Lane Pederson require waivers to go to Bakersfield while James Hamblin doesn’t. Pederson, who shoots right, and Hamblin, a lefty, are both playing against Jets on the road, fourth-line possibilities. “We’re just evaluating as coaches on who’s best for our team,” said Knoblauch. “Obviously, if you asked the question (contract situation, waivers), Stan (GM Bowman) would have a different perspective. Obviously, if there’s a battle for a position, maybe that (contract status) will have a bearing on the decision (management call.”…
- Knoblauch is a Hamblin booster. He’s killed penalties a lot in Bakersfield, but not in the NHL. He’s in the picture for that now, however, with Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele on different teams: “I see Hamblin as a very reliable player. During our 16-game winning streak last season, he played the majority if not all of them and was a contributor for us even those his minutes weren’t up there. It’s hard to play well with that. Sometimes it’s only six minutes, others maybe 11 or 12. Some players aren’t comfortable doing that but he was always ready,” said Knoblauch. “His speed helps our hockey team.”…
- The Jets trotted out a much deeper lineup against Oilers in Winnipeg than the one that lost here Sunday. They had Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Nik Ehlers, captain Adam Lowry, Nino Niederreiter, Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo…
- Knoblauch absolutely sees Vasily Podkolzin getting some reps as PK forward, too. He gets a lot of sticks on pucks, breaking up plays. “He can play the power play but who’s he going to knock off there? It’s true that the penalty-kill isn’t something he’s done a lot of but with any good hockey player if they’re focused and are bought into that job, they can do it,” said Knoblauch…
- Former Oilers farmhand Michael Kesselring, who went to Arizona (now Utah) in the Nick Bjugstad, has established himself as an NHL D. He’ll be in Utah’s third pair, likely with Ian Cole. The 6’5” right-shot D Kesselring had 6.1 goals above replacement last season, according to Evolving-Hockey.
Bookmark our website and support our journalism:Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.