Crunch time for vets trying to extend NHL careers

NHL rosters will be mostly set when training camps open this week, with only a couple of spots in each team’s 23-man lineup up for grabs.

Every season, there are veterans looking to extend their careers by taking those spots — usually from a younger prospect — even if it means entering camp on tryout basis.

Players on a professional tryout contract, known as a “PTO,” have no security, only an opportunity to prove they deserve another NHL deal.

Very few players are successful and many are left pondering whether they should play overseas or in the minors, or retire.

“You never want to hope there’s an injury to get a job but for some of these guys, it’s what needs to happen,” said agent Allain Roy of RSG Sports.

“You’re excited to get an opportunity, but you’re not happy to be at that point (in your career).”

He calls players on professional tryouts an “insurance policy.”

“A very small percentage are true opportunities,” he said. “But I think if a guy goes through camp and he outperforms a young guy then that conversation has to happen.”

As of Tuesday morning, there were 40 players expected to attend camps on tryouts.

Many are familiar names who once had lucrative guaranteed contracts: defenceman Cody Franson, 30, with Chicago; forward R.J. Umberger, 35, with Dallas; forwards David Booth, 32; and Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, 34, with Detroit.

There are plenty with Canadian teams too, including defenceman Eric Gelinas, 26, in Montreal; forward Chris Kelly, 36 in Edmonton; forward Chris VandeVelde, 30, in Ottawa; forwards Tanner Glass, 33; and Joseph Cramarossa, 24, in Calgary; and forwards Scottie Upshall, 33, and Ryan White, 29, in Vancouver.

Upshall has been through this before when he converted a tryout with St. Louis into two seasons with the Blues.

Twenty-one teams have at least one skater attending camp looking for a last hurrah.

The L.A. Kings lead the way with five invitees, including forward Brooks Laich, who spent last season buried in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies.

Last season, Kris Versteeg was one of the lucky ones.

He went to Edmonton’s camp on a tryout and got the attention of the Flames, who offered him a one-year NHL contract.

Versteeg, who was coming off a four-year, US$17.6-million contract, had his salary cut to $950,000.

He scored 15 goals and 37 points in 69 games and was re-signed for $1.75 million.