From a management point of view, the professional tryout (PTO) is often
referred to as bargain shopping.

From a player';s perspective, it may offer one last shot to prove you still
belong in the NHL.

As far as the Edmonton Oilers are concerned, the hope is that this year';s trio
 of PTOs will offer some promising options to the team. Over the summer,
Oilers'; general manager Peter Chiarelli inked defenseman Jason Garrison along
with forwards Scottie Upshall and Alex Chiasson to an extended look at training
 camp.

Unfortunately for the Oilers, the 34-year-old Upshall failed his physical at
Oilers training camp on Thursday, casting doubt on his future with the
team.Upshall Fails Physical but Still Plans to Be in Camp

By Friday, however, it appeared the knee injury that led to the failed physical
 would only sideline the grinder for a few days rather than weeks, as was
initially speculated. Chiarelli told reporters that Upshall could return to
camp "this weekend or early next week."Scottie Upshall, pictured here with the
St. Louis Blues, has failed his physical at the Edmonton Oilers training camp.
(Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

The Fort McMurray native is expected to compete for a fourth-line role
alongside former St. Louis Blues teammate Kyle Brodziak.

Upshall';s last four campaigns-one with the Florida Panthers and three more
recently with the Blues-show a player capable of playing between 63 and 73
games per season while contributing 14 to 19 points a year. More importantly,
he is an effective penalty killer. Only three other Blues forwards spent more
time on the ice shorthanded during Upshall';s tenure with the team.

A successful camp for the 15-year NHL veteran could have displaced Pontus
Aberg, Drake Caggiula or Zack Kassian, thus freeing up a winger to be traded
for much-needed help on the back end or cap space-which comes in handy at a
time when up-and-coming blueliner Darnell Nurse remains unsigned.Chiasson the
NHL Dream With the Oilers

If injury woes persist for Upshall, his loss could ultimately be Chiasson';s
gain.

The younger Chiasson-who turns 28 on Oct. 1-has shown a bit more offensive
upside than Upshall. During his last five seasons, the 6-foot-4 right winger
played for the Dallas Stars, Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames and Washington
Capitals.Right winger Alex Chiasson is on a PTO with the Edmonton Oilers.
(Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

The Montreal-born forward put up 35 points in his 2013-14 rookie campaign with
the Stars and followed that up with 11 goals and 15 helpers for the Sens in his
 sophomore season.

When he joined Calgary in 2016-17, Chiasson scored 12 goals and 12 assists for
the Flames before moving on to the Caps for a Stanley Cup-winning season last
year. During 61 regular-season contests, Chiasson contributed nine goals and
nine assists, and then appeared in 16 postseason games, registering a goal and
an assist.

In addition to bringing valuable championship experience from Washington,
Chiasson is familiar with new Oilers assistant coach Glen Gulutzan, for whom he
 played in Dallas and Calgary. He is also a dependable penalty killer and shot
blocker. Chiasson adds depth on the right side, and if he looks good in the
preseason the Oilers may look to move Kassian and his $1.95-million-per-season
contract, which runs out in 2020.Training Camp Battle for Jason Garrison

Garrison comes to Edmonton with a lot to prove. Can he be a valuable depth
defenseman or has his time in the NHL come to an end?

Last year was a tough one for the 33-year-old, who ended up in Las Vegas but
only suited up in eight games for the Golden Knights. The rest of Garrison';s
season was spent in the American Hockey League (AHL), where he put up
respectable numbers on offense with the Chicago Wolves, scoring eight goals and
 20 assists in 58 games.Jason Garrison spent three years with the Tampa Bay
Lightning from 2014 to 2017 before splitting time with the Las Vegas Golden
Knights and the AHL last season. He has joined the Edmonton Oilers'; training
camp on a PTO. (Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)

Garrison';s seasons of 30-point production from the blue line are well behind
him, but with a significant injury to Andrej Sekera and Nurse in Toronto
waiting for a deal to get done, the Oilers need to look at every possible
option on defense.

Before he arrived in Vegas, the left-shot defenseman from White Rock, B.C.
looked like a player in decline. His offensive numbers during his three seasons
 in Tampa Bay dropped from 30 points to 11 points to nine points, while his
plus/minus dropped from plus-27 to minus-four to minus-eight.

Garrison';s veteran presence may have a positive influence on the younger
rearguards in training camp, but he';ll be in tough to beat out 2018 10th
overall draft pick Evan Bouchard or recently signed defenders Kevin Gravel and
Jakeb Jerabek. Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, Keegan Lowe and William Lagesson may
also pass Garrison on the depth chart by the end of the preseason.Can the
Professional Tryouts Solve Some Problems?

Apart from the desire to see players compete and earn their roster spots on the
 team, the coaching staff and management of the Oilers will be looking at
strengthening a few weak areas with their PTOs.

If Garrison can keep up with his younger teammates, he may prove to be a useful
 seventh defenseman. Even if Garrison doesn';t stick with the big club, he
could take on a mentoring role once again in the AHL.

Chiasson and Upshall, meanwhile, have the ability to improve a penalty kill
that was 25th in the league last year, and they may also provide Chiarelli with
 a bit of cap relief or a trade chip if the Oilers opt to roster one (or both)
of their PTO forwards over more expensive options on the wing.

For the most part, you can slot the PTOs under the category of "no harm, no
foul." All three are worth a look, and by the time the regular season rolls
around, Oiler fans should have a better idea of their value.

The post Edmonton Oilers'; PTO Expectations appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

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