Every September there are always a few players who come to PTOs, perform well and ultimately sign NHL contracts. Some PTOs turn into more than just in-depth additives, but more often than not, players on PTOs ultimately play bottom-six or bottom-pair roles. Here are five players on PTOs who have the best chance of making NHL grilles.
Conor Sheary
Conor Sheary’s stint with the lightning of Tampa Bay did not go well. He was only four goals and 15 points over 62 games and spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch. However, he was one of the most productive players in the AHL last season, with a total of 20 goals and 61 points in 59 games. Yet that led to the Lightning buy The last year of his contract this season outside the season.
Related: 2025 NHL PTO Tracker
Looking for work, Sheary accepted a PTO with the New York Rangers, where his old boss, Mike Sullivan, is now the head coach. The fame between the two helps, but Sheary had his most productive season in the NHL under Sullivan in Pittsburgh with the penguins. He has an average of 17 goals and 37 points per 82 games before his career, and given the lack of depth in the lower six of the Rangers, he may have a chance to make their opening night schedule.
Sheary scored a goal in the preseason of the Rangers against the New Jersey Devils on September 21 and shot three shots on goal. The Rangers have promising prospects such as Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard who fight for places on the third line/lower six, so Sheary will have competition. But his experienced experience and familiarity with Sullivan can give him a head start on his competition if he performs well.
Matt Grzelcyk
It was a bit surprising to see that a 40-point defender needs a PTO to find a new home for this season, but that is the situation in which Matt Grzelcyk has been. However, it is not without reason. One) he struggled at even strength last season, because his even game (attacking + defense combined) was worth an expected goals over replacement (Xgar) of -5.2. Two) he is an undersized defender in a competition that has been taken care of in recent years to larger and more mobile blueliners.
Still, for a team like the Chicago Blackhawks that needs some experienced experience on its blue line, Grzelcyk has to stand in line to earn a one -year contract. Although he was primarily a Power-Play trader at the Penguins last season, he is still a NHL caliber defender, and the Blackhawks could use it to protect some of the younger Blueliners they will be this season.
Kevin Labanc
Kevin Labanc only played in 34 games last season due to an injury, but there is a NHler if he can stay healthy. Last season he was one of the better five-five players of the Columbus Blue Jackets in a team that had a good part of the battle in that game state. He ended with an expected goal share (XG%) just above 54 percent, and he had an average of 1.99 points per 60 minutes, making it one of the more efficient five-on-five scorers of the Blue Jackets.
Labanc entered the training camp on a PTO with the Devils the last season and did well, but he finished Sign a contract with the Blue Jackets Because the devils were tight on cap space. It would not shock me if he had to go through a similar process in September, because the cracking of the schedule of the Carolina Hurricanes will not be an easy task, especially on the wing. Yet I like Labanc’s opportunities to land an NHL contract somewhere.
Robby Fabbri
Robby Fabbri had several important knee damage during his NHL career, so it is fair to wonder if he can stay healthy for a full season. He played in just 44 games last season and finished with eight goals and 16 points. But that is a pace of 30 points of more than 82 games, and when he looks at his production in the last three seasons, he has an average of 19 goals and 38 points per 82 games.
Admittedly, the effects of Fabbri have been good in red for quite some time. His general game was worth an Xgar of -7.1 last season, although that was mainly due to his bad defensive game. The good news for him is that he is on A PTO with a penguins Team that is in the early stages of a rebuilding, so there may be a chance for him to get a Bottom-Six role on a cheap annual deal.
The penguins do not want to be competitive this season and Fabbri probably has some value if he can score in a Bottom-Six role. He may not pick up much, but if general manager Kyle Dubas can turn him around for a mid-round pick at the trade deadline, that would be a neat company for someone who comes to a PTO and probably does not cost more than the veteran minimum to sign.
Oliver Wahlstrom
In another situation, Oliver Wahlstrom may be intended for the AHL, given its struggles in the past seasons. He has An AHL deal With the San Jose Barracuda if he doesn’t make the NHL, but he probably has a decent chance to play for the sharks, given the state of their selection. Yes, the sharks have to improve this season, but they are probably still one of the soil feeds of the NHL.
That should leave the door open for Wahlstrom to make the NHL grille of the sharks in a bottom-six roll. Last season he only achieved six points in 43 games between the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders, and this is perhaps his last chance to prove that he belongs at the highest level. His game was worth a goals over replacement (GAR) of -4 last season, so I am not overly sure that he will make the NHL, but he has a chance because the sharks probably want some NHL experience in their lower six.
Other remarkable players on PTOs are Jack Johnson (Minnesota Wild), Noah Gregor (Florida Panthers) and Tyler Motte (Panthers). They also have a chance to crack their respective schedules, but the five players above seem to have the best opportunities to land NHL performances for the 2025-26 season.
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