Besides Rick Nash, who is pondering retirement, it's pretty slim pickings among
 the remaining free agents.

A bunch of veterans past their prime and a fair amount of former prospects who
haven't panned out to date.

Add them up and there are approximately 100 players still available who could
compete for NHL ice-time this season, but the majority of them will be doing so
 on training-camp tryouts.

Yes, PTOs - professional tryouts.

Now that we're into the back half of August, those announcements should start
coming fast and furious.

The end of July is typically a quiet time, as general managers are busy holding
 down hammocks at their summer cottages, but this is the perfect time to put
out some PTO predictions.

I tried my hand at this exercise last year, predicting 62 PTOs - two per team -
 without much luck, only getting Jaromir Jagr to Calgary (signed), Cody Franson
 to Chicago (PTO, then signed) and Spencer Abbott to Anaheim (AHL San Diego,
then Switzerland).

Undeterred by those awful results, and perhaps a bit bored during these dog
days of summer, I've decided to throw some more PTO darts.

This really is a guessing game, without any sort of insider info, so don't take
 these predictions to your local bookie.

So far, the only known PTO commitments are Simon Despres, with his hometown
Montreal Canadiens, and Mark Letestu, with the Florida Panthers.

Despres, a former top-four defenceman and first-round pick from 2009, is
returning from the KHL in hopes of cracking the Habs' blue line, while Letestu
is a veteran fourth-line centre who split last season between Edmonton and
Columbus.(Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)
Mark Letestu was a very serviceable player for the Edmonton Oilers in recent
years, but the 33-year-old had to settle for a PTO this summer in hopes of
earning another one-way contract.

Letestu landing with Florida speaks to the randomness of these PTOs since the
Panthers are one of the last teams I would have guessed for him. Nonetheless,
that's half the fun here - attempting to get lucky a time or two. Or hopefully
more than three to top last year's total.

Nash, a proven top-six winger, won't appear on this list since he obviously
wouldn't have to audition for a contract and will still be able to pick his
spot from several potential suitors if he decides to return rather than retire
from post-concussion symptoms.(Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports)
Rick Nash is, by far, the best free agent still available, but that has been by
 choice since he';s weighing the pros and cons of continuing his career while
trying to ensure he';s fully healthy again.

There could be a few other contracts handed out ahead of training camps in
mid-September - and some free agents will be heading overseas in the meantime -
 but most of these fringe players will need to impress in preseason action to
earn further employment in the NHL.

Speaking of overseas, the teams that start their seasons there - be it
preseason or regular season - have tended to bring in more players on PTOs.
This year, that would apply to Edmonton, New Jersey, Calgary and Boston, so I
bumped each of them up to four and brought the total to 70.

Let's start with those travelling teams and work our way down the list
alphabetically from there, with my best guesses for where 70 unrestricted free
agents - 38 forwards, 26 defencemen and six goaltenders - could potentially
land on PTOs.Edmonton Oilers

PTOs: Cody Franson (RD), Brandon Davidson (LD), Scottie Upshall (LW/RW), Jason
Chimera (LC/LW/RW)(Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY Sports)
Cody Franson (11) didn';t get much of a chance with the Chicago Blackhawks last
 season, but his best shot at staying in the NHL this season - and reviving his
 career - could come with the Oilers.

ANALYSIS: Franson was apparently considering Edmonton before committing to
Chicago last summer - on a PTO that turned into a contract, then a demotion to
the minors - but the Oilers could circle back on this right shot with offensive
 upside and impressive fancy stats. With the long-term loss of Andrej Sekera,
Edmonton would have room for Franson if he plays his way onto the roster and
the Oilers wouldn't have to rush Evan Bouchard and/or Ethan Bear.

Davidson is a known commodity for Edmonton - and for Todd McLellan - so that
makes him a logical choice. Davidson won't replace Sekera, but he could compete
 for a spot on the bottom pairing with Kevin Gravel and Keegan Lowe. Davidson
would provide more depth and likely keep Caleb Jones in Bakersfield.

The two forwards are Alberta boys who have been linked to the Oilers this
offseason. Upshall has chemistry with Kyle Brodziak from their time together in
 St. Louis and they could be reunited on Edmonton's fourth line, along with
Zack Kassian or Jujhar Khaira. Chimera would also be vying for that role, to
flank Brodziak, though Chimera has played a lot of centre and could be a good
option coming out of the press box in case of injury.New Jersey Devils

PTOs: Luca Sbisa (LD), Ryan Sproul (RD), Paul Martin (LD), Alex Chiasson
(RW)(Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports)
It is a little surprising that Luca Sbisa remains unsigned, but he may be
holding out for a certain base salary - perhaps more than $2 million on a
one-year contract, which may or may not be attainable at this point.

ANALYSIS: Sbisa looked good at times for Vegas and should still be an
NHL-calibre defenceman, perhaps even a top-four tweener for New Jersey. Ray
Shero may covet him to round out the Devils' back end.

Sproul and Martin are at opposite ends of their careers and neither were good
enough to stick in the NHL last season. Sproul, 25, might be able to make the
most of more opportunity and New Jersey figures to be a good fit, while the
37-year-old Martin is past his prime and looked to be on his last legs with San
 Jose, but he does have a history with the Devils - albeit with a past regime.

Chiasson would bring championship experience from Washington, something that
New Jersey could use more of. He'd be competing for a bottom-six role but could
 have a legitimate shot of making the Devils with a strong showing. It worked
for Jimmy Hayes and Drew Stafford last year.Calgary Flames

PTOs: Lee Stempniak (RW), Mike Cammalleri (LW/RW/LC), Joe Colborne (LC), Dustin
 Tokarski (G)(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Lee Stempniak has suited up for 10 teams in his NHL career - including the
Calgary Flames, from 2011 to 2014 - and it will be interesting to see if that
total reaches 11 or if he ends up with one of his former clubs this fall,
assuming Stempniak attempts to extend his playing days.

ANALYSIS: There are all kinds of connections at play here, starting with
Stempniak, who has played for Bill Peters in Carolina the past couple seasons.
He's coming off a rough year, but was productive for the Hurricanes the
previous campaign. Peters already has a few former players joining him in
Calgary, with trade-acquisitions Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm and free-agent
 signing Derek Ryan.

Peters and Ryan go way back to WHL Spokane, a junior club that Tokarski
backstopped to a Memorial Cup championship in 2008, which launched Peters into
coaching at the professional level. Tokarski would be competing with David
Rittich, Jon Gillies and Tyler Parsons to serve as Mike Smith's backup, but
Tokarski would likely end up as organizational depth if signed.

Cammalleri and Colborne are forwards who have enjoyed past success with the
Flames. Calgary is already quite loaded up front, so there may not be room for
these two - or for Stempniak - but look for a few extra bodies to round out the
 preseason roster. Especially if Calgary sends the A-team to China and ices a
B-team for its exhibition games back on this side of the pond.Boston Bruins

PTOs: Antoine Vermette (LC), Shawn Matthias (LC/LW), Frank Corrado (RD), Viktor
 Svedberg (LD)(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Antoine Vermette is certainly a candidate for retirement - and he';s suggested
 as much this offseason - but if he finds that fire to keep going, there could
 be mutual interest with the Boston Bruins.

ANALYSIS: Boston is looking at some younger internal options to replace the
departed Riley Nash as a third-line centre, but Vermette could be a nice fit
there. He's lost a step and might not add much offence, but he's still capable
of winning key faceoffs.

Matthias would be more of a fourth-liner, but he's another versatile veteran
who could have something left in the tank if he's back to full health. He does
have some hard miles on his body though.

The Bruins are eight deep on defence, but could add another blueliner on a
two-way contract. Corrado and Svedberg might be intriguing to Don Sweeney -
particularly Svedberg, who is almost as big as Zdeno Chara.Anaheim Ducks

PTOs: Nick Shore (RC), Max Talbot (LC/LW)(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Nick Shore could be a breakout candidate this season, but first he has to find
a team willing to take a chance on him - and that might mean agreeing to a PTO
as the first step towards a contract.

ANALYSIS: If Ryan Kesler is a no-go for the start of the season, Anaheim would
be wise to snag Shore as a stopgap centre and somebody that Bob Murray would be
 familiar with from his stints with Pacific Division rivals. Shore's underlying
 numbers are surprisingly good, so some team should take a chance on him sooner
 or later.

Talbot has played the past two seasons in the KHL - putting up respectable
stat-lines - but he remains unsigned in the present and might be holding out
hope for another NHL chance. He may not be an upgrade on Vermette from last
season, but there is only one way to find out and there is no risk in offering
a PTO.Arizona Coyotes

PTOs: Duncan Siemens (LD), Brenden Kichton (RD)

ANALYSIS: The Coyotes - and more specifically the Tucson Roadrunners - seem to
be gravitate towards WHL grads, with both Siemens and Kichton fitting that
bill. These defenders haven't been able to establish themselves as NHLers to
date and Arizona is pretty deep on the back end heading into camp - especially
 if Jakob Chychrun is healthy from Day 1 - but both could be worth a look as
candidates for two-way contracts.Buffalo Sabres

PTOs: Kari Lehtonen (G), Max Reinhart (LC/LW)(Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports)
Kari Lehtonen failed to backstop the Stars into the playoffs when Ben Bishop
got hurt last season, which made Dallas go in a different direction. Buffalo is
 also taking a different direction in goal and Lehtonen could be worth
consideration for the Sabres.

ANALYSIS: Buffalo made a three-year commitment to Carter Hutton and plans to
promote Linus Ullmark, but Lehtonen is still out there and could really push
those two in the preseason. That Hutton-Ullmark tandem is nothing special, so
the added competition couldn't hurt and Lehtonen might be capable of stealing a
 job with the Sabres.

Reinhart is the older brother of Buffalo forward Sam Reinhart. Max isn't as
talented, but he could be a decent addition on a two-way deal as a possible
call-up.Carolina Hurricanes

PTOs: Steve Mason (G), Freddie Hamilton (RC/RW)(Sergei Belski/USA TODAY Sports)
Steve Mason got off to a bad start with Winnipeg, surrendering the starting job
 to Connor Hellebuyck and then suffering a concussion. Now he';s looking for a
place to rebound and Carolina might be his best bet.

ANALYSIS: Carolina is another team with uncertain goaltending. Petr Mrazek is
slated to platoon with Scott Darling, but Mason could be better than both of
them. If the Hurricanes are serious about taking a step forward, bringing in
another proven goalie on a PTO makes a lot of sense. If Darling or Mrazek
aren't up to the challenge, they could be buried in the minors, providing new
owner Tom Dundon is willing to "waste" a bit of money.

The Hamilton brothers played together briefly in Calgary and Dougie apparently
wasn't happy when Freddie got sent down to AHL Stockton. The Hurricanes
wouldn't be making any promises or offering a one-way contract, but extending
Freddie a PTO might be a good way to make Dougie feel more at home in his new
surroundings.Chicago Blackhawks

PTOs: Toby Enstrom (LD), Dennis Seidenberg (LD)(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Toby Enstrom was upset over being scratched by Winnipeg in the playoffs and
feels he still has some good hockey left in him. Chicago could be the team to
test that theory.

ANALYSIS: Chicago has several quality defence prospects in the system and
training camp will determine if any of them are NHL-ready, but some added
experience would be beneficial. Enstrom and Seidenberg are among the best of
the rest for blueliners and the Blackhawks should have room for at least one of
 them.Colorado Avalanche

PTOs: Josh Gorges (LD), Bobby Sanguinetti (RD)(Kevin Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports)
Josh Gorges has enjoyed a fantastic career for an undrafted player, but he may
have a hard time prolonging his playing days after the way things ended for him
 in Buffalo as a frequent healthy scratch. That said, Colorado could use his
leadership and experience, and Gorges could certainly have a future in coaching
 if he so desires.

ANALYSIS: Colorado isn't desperate to add a defender but could also welcome
more competition at camp. Gorges may not be ready to hang up his skates and
Tyson Barrie might put in a good word for him based on their Kelowna
connection. Sanguinetti has spent the past two seasons as one of the
top-producing defencemen in Switzerland and he's still only 30 years old, so he
 could be a PTO candidate this fall after a decent showing at the Olympics for
Team USA.Columbus Blue Jackets

PTOs: Matt Stajan (LC), Kevin Bieksa (RD)(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Kevin Bieksa was really good at landing that Superman punch last season, but
not overly good at anything else. He';s still a hockey player, not an MMA
fighter, so Bieksa will likely need to prove himself again as a rugged
defenceman for a new team during training camp.

ANALYSIS: Columbus might still sign Letestu to a two-way deal, but if Florida
gives him a one-way contract, then Stajan could be a fallback option. Bieksa is
 known to John Tortorella from their year together in Vancouver and he is
Torts' type of player. Both these guys are, Bieksa and Stajan, so the Blue
Jackets may look to add some character to camp.Dallas Stars

PTOs: Jussi Jokinen (LW/RW/LC), Clayton Stoner (LD)(Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY
 Sports)
Jussi Jokinen really bounced around last season - from Edmonton to Los Angeles
to Columbus to Vancouver - and his best days are clearly behind him, but
Jokinen may be able to finish his career where it started in Dallas. He could
very well be pursuing the Stars for a PTO.

ANALYSIS: Jokinen had his best days with the Stars, prior to being traded to
Boston as part of the package for Tyler Seguin, so Jim Nill might have a soft
spot for Jokinen in Dallas. That doesn't necessarily mean there would be a
roster spot for him, but a tryout could be in the cards.

Stoner is a big physical blueliner, perhaps an insurance policy if Marc Methot
were to get hurt again. But Stoner's health has also been a concern, so the
Stars would want a closer look at him before offering anything concrete - even
 a two-way contract.Detroit Red Wings

PTOs: Jimmy Lodge (RW/RC), Greg Chase (LW/RW/RC)

ANALYSIS: Detroit won't likely be big-game hunting with their PTOs but might be
 looking to retool the farm team, auditioning the likes of Lodge and Chase more
 so for Grand Rapids. Lodge was lost in Winnipeg's deep pool of forward
prospects but has some decent talent, while Chase didn't develop as hoped in
Edmonton's system. Both are now 23 years old and could be serviceable
minor-leaguers with the potential to still take a step forward.Florida Panthers

PTOs: Troy Brouwer (RW), Kris Versteeg (RW/LW)(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Troy Brouwer got bought out by the Calgary Flames late in the offseason and
it';s debatable how useful he';d be for another team like Florida in the
upcoming campaign. The Panthers could be kicking tires on Brouwer.

ANALYSIS: Florida went the veteran route with Letestu, but I was more so
anticipating Brouwer and/or Versteeg - two players that helped Chicago win the
Stanley Cup with Dale Tallon in 2010. Tallon is a loyal GM, sometimes to a
fault, but there would be no fault in a PTO. The Panthers should have room for
at least one of those three, counting Letestu.Los Angeles Kings

PTOs: Ales Hemsky (RW), Mason Raymond (LW/RW)(Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports)
Much like former Kings forward Marian Gaborik, the key for Ales Hemsky is
getting healthy and avoiding another injury, but that has always been their
biggest challenge. Hemsky';s talent has never been in doubt.

ANALYSIS: Los Angeles already has an older team, but Rob Blake obviously
believes the window to win is now, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the
Kings extend a spin to a couple more veterans. The Kings still have some holes
- or question marks - among their bottom-six forwards, so Hemsky and Raymond
may see L.A. as their best chance to land a roster spot.

Hemsky is injury-prone and may never get up to speed again, but if he could
stay healthy, the Kings could get a skilled forward on the cheap. Raymond is
coming off a point-per-game season in Switzerland and showed he still has some
game with Canada at the Olympics.Minnesota Wild

PTOs: Drew Stafford (RW), Anders Lindback (G)(Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports)
Drew Stafford was a late signing last summer, inking a one-year, one-way
contract worth $800,000 with New Jersey on Aug. 25. He';ll be hoping for a
similar scenario this year, but Stafford may have to wait until training camp
and earn his next deal from a PTO.

ANALYSIS: Minnesota, under new GM Paul Fenton, has signed a lot of bottom-six
forwards this offseason - including Matt Read to a two-way contract - but
Stafford may have been a better option than most of them. As a bottom-six
winger, Stafford could still be a good fit for the Wild.

Lindback has history with Fenton from Nashville and could be brought in to
compete with Alex Stalock and Andrew Hammond for the backup role behind Devan
Dubnyk.Montreal Canadiens

PTOs: Eric Gelinas (LD), Brandon Bollig (LW/RW)

ANALYSIS: Montreal is giving Despres a chance to impress in camp, so it only
makes sense to do the same for Gelinas, another francophone coming off a solid
season for the Canadiens' farm club (AHL Laval Rocket). They are both 27 years
old and could provide veteran leadership for Laval, while being call-up options
 if injuries deplete Montreal's defence again.

Marc Bergevin may remember Bollig from their brief time together in Chicago,
and Andrew Shaw certainly has more familiarity with his former Blackhawks
teammate. Bergevin does like his gritty players and Montreal might need some
extra muscle - at least for the preseason.Nashville Predators

PTOs: Johnny Oduya (LD), Jonathon Blum (RD)(Marc DesRosiers/USA TODAY Sports)
If Johnny Oduya isn';t done, he could be an attractive depth addition for a Cup
 contender since he has championship experience.

ANALYSIS: Nashville's top-four defencemen are as good as any team in the
league, but the Predators' bottom pairing is very much undecided, especially
with Dante Fabbro staying in school. Yannick Weber, Matt Irwin and Anthony
Bitetto are under contract in those Nos. 5-7 spots, but Oduya could easily
steal one of those roles as a two-time Cup winner.

Blum, who broke into the NHL with Nashville but has spent the past few seasons
in the KHL, remains unsigned and may be looking to play closer to home again.
David Poile might give his former top prospect a training-camp opportunity that
 could turn into a two-way contract.New York Islanders

PTOs: Dominic Moore (LC), Jason Garrison (LD)(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Dominic Moore is no longer in the plans for Toronto, but the Leafs'; former
general manager might still have some degree of interest.

ANALYSIS: The Islanders lost their franchise player in John Tavares this
offseason and the organization is undergoing an overhaul. Lou Lamoriello has
taken over, arriving from Toronto and already bringing with him Leo Komarov and
 Matt Martin. Moore is another former Maple Leaf who could be a bottom-six fit
for the Islanders.

Garrison didn't get much of a chance with Vegas, but he seemed to have a decent
 season in the minors and is still worthy of a PTO. The Islanders are fairly
young on the back end and Garrison's experience could help solidify the depth
on a two-way deal.New York Rangers

PTOs: Tomas Jurco (LW/RW), Matt O'Connor (G)(James Guillory/USA TODAY Sports)
Tomas Jurco had tantalizing potential as a Detroit prospect, but his tools
haven';t turned into consistent production thus far and now he';s looking for
another new home. He should find one sooner or later.

ANALYSIS: The Rangers probably won't bring in any 30-plus veterans on PTOs, but
 they might audition a younger option like Jurco, who could grow with their
team if he impresses in camp.

O'Connor hasn't panned out as a pro thus far, but he backstopped Boston
University to the Frozen Four final in 2015. David Quinn was his coach and is
now in charge of the Rangers' rebuild, so perhaps Quinn's old netminder will
get a shot on a PTO.Ottawa Senators

PTOs: Emile Poirier (LW/RW), Tim Erixon (LD)

ANALYSIS: Not too many free agents are going to be knocking on Ottawa's door,
even though there could be plenty of opportunity - as well as uncertainty
- with the Senators this season. Pierre Dorion may have to settle for a couple
 of reclamation projects on PTOs, with Poirier and Erixon among the potential
candidates.

Poirier is a speedy forward who has battled alcoholism away from the rink,
while Erixon was once a hyped Swedish defence prospect who failed to hit the
ground running in North America. Both could be midseason call-ups if the
Senators sell off on Matt Duchene, Mark Stone and Erik Karlsson - a trio of
stars who will be unrestricted free agents after this season.Philadelphia
Flyers

PTOs: Scott Hartnell (LW), Mark Fayne (RD)(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Scott Hartnell was a hit in Philadelphia the first time around, so a second
stint with the Flyers could be a fitting way to end his career.

ANALYSIS: Philadelphia already brought back James van Riemsdyk and Hartnell was
 another fan favourite there. The Flyers are deep on the wings - more so than
at centre - but Hartnell would be motivated to force his way onto that roster
and getting the band back together wouldn't be a bad idea for Ron Hextall.

Fayne got buried by the Oilers - much the way Andrew MacDonald was for some
time by the Flyers - but he could be worth a look as a depth option on defence.
 Some believe Fayne is still an NHL player and could bounce back like
MacDonald.Pittsburgh Penguins

PTOs: Ondrej Pavelec (G), Colby Robak (LD)

ANALYSIS: Pittsburgh will probably bring in a veteran goalie on a PTO to
compete with Casey DeSmith and Tristan Jarry, and to possibly provide
mentorship for Matt Murray. Mason and Lehtonen would be preferred options, but
they may seek out opportunities for more playing time, leaving Pavelec for the
Penguins.

Pittsburgh has good depth at forward and on defence, so Robak would be more so
auditioning for a role with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, though he could be a
call-up option.San Jose Sharks

PTOs: Alexei Emelin (LD), Jakub Jerabek (LD)(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Alexei Emelin was a feared hitter for Montreal, but he didn';t make as much of
an impact for Nashville last season. Yet, there should still be a decent amount
 of interest in the 32-year-old rearguard.

ANALYSIS: San Jose's bottom-four defenders are Brenden Dillon, Dylan DeMelo,
Joakim Ryan and Tim Heed. Not bad, but not great. Emelin and Jerabek could both
 add some much-needed competition to the Sharks' training camp. Kyle Wood was
acquired from Arizona for that purpose, but a couple PTOs would really ramp up
the stakes. Emelin could certainly earn a role there.St. Louis Blues

--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
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