PTO: James Wisniewski signs PTO with Tampa Bay

[Skinnyjimmy08]

crazy that a lot of teams aren't offering him a 1 year deal

 

[KingTux]

I guess he wants insurance in case Koekkoek doesn't demonstrate that he is ready for a full top top-6 position. Smart, as usual.

 

[Butchered]

If James Wisniewski ends up making Tampa Bay's roster out of training camp, would Wisniewski be the 6th defenseman, or would Wisniewski be the 7th or 8th D-man on Tampa Bay's roster.

I think he'd be a 7/8 unless he just blows people away at training camp. Someone to push Koekkoek and Nesterov to keep them motivated/give guys a game off here and there.

 

[Fro]

crazy that a lot of teams aren't offering him a 1 year deal

pretty brutal injury, PTO makes sense to see if he's recovered...

 

[48g90a138pts]

Really isn't any cap room for him unless Yzerman has a move coming. Even if Nesterov and Wisniewski sign at league minimum that's still just 5.4mil left to sign Kucherov and have 2.9mil in possible bonuses not including Koekkoek 600k if he makes the team.

No idea what Kucherov is going to get but to sign him long term he's worth around 7-7.5mil even with tax savings. Tight situation the Lightning have on their hands.

Good job on Yzerman getting this guy to goto camp with them.

 

[UnicornONtheCOBB]

he chose Tampa, because it's a pretty nice place to live, and the team is stacked and a cup contender. No one was going to offer him HUGE money, plus he's made plenty already. Why not try and win, and be in Florida, seems like a no brainer to me. Even if all he is, is a power play specialist, there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

he knows the offers he got... I would almost bet he had a few offers at around league minimum...

but a pto will make more sense if he thinks hes healthy. if he can go to camp and show everyone he is healthy... that he can play... then he can still shop himself around for a big money deal.

theres been a lot of guys that go to camp with one team... then sign to play with another organization. wisniewski probably likes his chances to ring up some points playing with the tampa run and gun style of play and all their skilled forwards

 

[Chardo]

He also chose Tampa for the golf. He's a serious player who wants to try the PGA or maybe senior tour when he's done. I have played with him and he's got serious game. I knew right from the first tee. I'm a big hitter and I nailed a decent one to start, about 270 down the middle. His drive was still rising when it flew over mine, landing 60 yards past. Dropped his approach within two feet and tapped in. Rest of the round was similar. He broke par without even trying hard.

 

[mouser]

Technically, the Professional Tryout, as defined in the CBA, applies only to Goaltenders signed when there are no other healthy goaltenders for a team during the regular season.

In training camp, the player and team agree that the player will participate in training camp and exhibition games. The player is provided with the training camp stipend and can use the club facilities and staff. The team does not cover the player for injury; insurance is the responsibility of the player. The team does not own the rights of the player on try out and the agreement may be broken by either party at any time, or as specified in the try out agreement language.

In short, if a player signed a PTO with one team, but thought he had a better chance with another team, he can break the PTO with one and sign with another. Any team offering that player an official contract (NHL or AHL) would not owe compensation to the other team.

Therefore, Wisniewski can do what he likes in training camp. Keep in mind Tampa may be doing the agent and player a favor, with no real designs on signing Wisniewski. On the other hand, Wisniewski may feel that he can make the Tampa squad, or been given some assurances that if healthy and up to playing fitness and speed, he could make the team. There may even be an understanding on an NHL or AHL contract, but only that , wink-wink.

PTO is covered in the NHL By-Laws, albeit in a very short description. The By-Laws are incorporated into the CBA unless there is a conflict, in which case the CBA supersedes the By-Laws.

The CBA's limitation of only discussing Goalies on PTO's is a subset of the possible By-Laws PTO's rather then a circumscription of what types of PTO's are allowed.

 

[major major]

It's been about 2 and a half years since Wiz has been anywhere close to full health, so a PTO makes sense. (I know his game played stats are better than that but he was playing through terrible injuries (broken bones, etc. ..)) Even if he's decently healthy now, he's best suited to a powerplay specialist role. Edmonton could use him the most in that role, I suppose it's still up in the air where he goes with the freedom of a PTO.

 

[Sensinitis]

Well, his decision to sign with Tampa could be based in part on the fact that he likes the team that Yzerman has helped build and would like to be a part of it.

He chose Tampa because of the good work Yzerman has done of building the team into contenders.

thats different. i read it as someone saying its a great move that yzerman offered him a pto.

guess i misunderstoof

Honestly i dont think you misunderstood, as it seems the other 2 posters did a heck of a job stretching out the range of possible ways to interpret the initial statement.

Very confident in their belief on why Wiz chose Tampa as well.

 

[Sensinitis]

I know it's a PTO but if he's even close to what he was before his injury Nesterov is done here. Also means Koekkoek will be losing some key minutes as Cooper likes his pairs LD-RD and Koekkoek is 4th on the LD depth chart.

Aren't both Nesterov and Koekkoek LHD, while Wiz is RHD?

 

[Sensinitis]

He also chose Tampa for the golf. He's a serious player who wants to try the PGA or maybe senior tour when he's done. I have played with him and he's got serious game. I knew right from the first tee. I'm a big hitter and I nailed a decent one to start, about 270 down the middle. His drive was still rising when it flew over mine, landing 60 yards past. Dropped his approach within two feet and tapped in. Rest of the round was similar. He broke par without even trying hard.

Is this sarcasm or serious?

 

[Fro]

Is this sarcasm or serious?

i'd believe it..he's close friends with jason day and plays at muirfield in dublin almost weekly...

 

[major major]

Wiz someday could be better known as a golfer than as a hockey player. Given that he can't skate anymore, I think that he should focus on his amazing golf skills.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Tampa's a bit of an odd fit in terms of cap space, but it could be the best TC for him to look good at.

Right now I'd imagine Wisniewski's contract offers were just PTO's or 1 year deals at sub a million "show me" contracts. If he goes to Tampa's camp, and looks good due to the high talent around him he could start fielding more lucrative offers.

 

[Mad Brills*]

A bit surprised the oilers didn't get him.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Honestly doubt he makes the team out of camp. Probably still not the worst idea to go PTO with a team with that much talent. After all and that is very rare, he actually could PTO and be offered a contract by Tampa and still sign somewhere else.

 

[Mr Positive]

A bit surprised the oilers didn't get him.

I think this is a case of player preference.

You got to admit, Tampa seems attractive when they had Carle who they bought out purely for cap reasons, a player who played quite a few minutes for them in the season and playoffs. Wiz imagines himself sliding into that spot.

There would be a good opportunity in Edmonton to get a lot of PP minutes, but the D is still in a state of flux so his weaknesses would probably be on display here a bit too much. It's a work in progress.

 

[mgd525]

I will admit my ignorance of PTO's before asking this question....

If he has a good camp, is there any obligation on anyone's part for him to sign in Tampa now? It seems logical that if he has a good camp that he signs with Tampa Bay of course, but how much commitment is there on either party now that he has signed a PTO?

Zero obligation on either side. Tampa could offer him a contract and a different team could offer him a contract though Tampa wants to sign him he could sign with team B.