3 More Players Sign PTOs With Canadiens, Panthers

Players continue to sign PTOs (professional tryouts) with teams as training camp is closing in. The latest batch, reported by Frank Seravalli, includes goaltender Kevin Mandolese with the Montreal Canadiens, forward Tyler Motte with the Florida Panthers, and defenseman Ben Harpur, also with the Panthers.

The Canadiens are still waiting to make their move on a second line center and have cap space to do so, but this addition of Mandolese, if he earns a contract, addresses goaltending depth even further. Montreal should be just fine with Sam Montembeault and Jakob Dobes as the tandem, but the team also signed Kaapo Kahkonen to a one year deal and Jacob Fowler is graduating to the AHL. I can't see any one of the AHL goalies being dropped to the ECHL, so there may be a rotation with less playing time if Mandolese shows up and grabs the Canadiens' attention enough to earn a league-minimum contract.

The Panthers have a bit of money, but they can't spend very much because Matthew Tkachuk is going to be back in January, well ahead of the trade deadline. The additions during the season the past few seasons may be over with, especially with the cap change, so the team has to do what they have been doing, grabbing cheap players and seeing them step up their games.

That may not be the exact thing that is going to happen with the pair of players signed to PTOs, but it isn't a bad move for organization depth either. Motte played 55 games last season for the Detroit Red Wing and scored four goals and nine points while making 72 hits. He kills penalties and wouldn't be a bad option as an extra that splits time between the NHL and AHL.

Harpur is a big defenseman who last played in the NHL in 2022-23, playing limited games in the AHL the past two seasons. He may be a long-shot, but could also just get a one-year contract to once again play in the AHL and be deep organizational depth. The minor teams need some veterans as well, even if they don't play every game. His 42 games with the New York Rangers in 2022-23 was arguably his best season, so he might still be fit to play.