Sonny Milano had a long summer B次元官网网址� and not just because his team missed the NHL playoffs.

Despite putting up 14 goals and 34 points in 66 games with the Anaheim Ducks in 2021-22, the winger was surprisingly cut loose and hit the open market after not receiving a qualifying offer.

All the 26-year-old could do was wait for another organization to show interest and sign him in unrestricted free agency.

The problem? A new deal never materialized.

B次元官网网址淚 was hoping for a contract,B次元官网网址� Milano said. B次元官网网址淏ut thatB次元官网网址檚 where we are right now.B次元官网网址�

In his case, thatB次元官网网址檚 with the Calgary Flames at training camp on a professional tryout (PTO) B次元官网网址� a situation a number of previously established NHLers find themselves in across the league every fall.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a no-strings-attached agreement for both sides.

The player gets a chance to showcase himself to a fresh set of eyes in hopes of finding a home, while teams get a free look to see if thereB次元官网网址檚 a fit.

The PTO signee has no guarantees or contract to fall back on, but is also conceivably auditioning for 31 other clubs if things donB次元官网网址檛 work out in a specific market, or a better opportunity materializes elsewhere.

The 14th overall selection at the 2014 draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Milano saw a chance to crack CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 top-nine forward group.

B次元官网网址淪tay positive,B次元官网网址� he said of his mindset. B次元官网网址淛ust got to make the best of it.B次元官网网址�

According to capfriendly.com, there are currently 42 players on PTOs at NHL camps, including 10 on Canadian rosters.

Calgary leads the way north of the border with three (Milano, Cody Eakin and Michael Stone), followed by the Edmonton Oilers (Jason Demers and Jake Virtanen), Toronto Maple Leafs (Zach Aston-Reese and Dylan Ferguson), Ottawa Senators (Derick Brassard and Michael Dal Colle) and Vancouver Canucks (Danny DeKeyser).

Of the 30 players on PTOs last fall, 10 went on to earn NHL deals.

Demers has played a combined 760 games in the league, but didnB次元官网网址檛 get a sniff last season. He instead suited up five times in the Russian-based KHL and five more with Canada at the Beijing Olympics.

B次元官网网址淣ew territory for me,B次元官网网址� said the 34-year-old trying to force his way into EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 lineup. B次元官网网址淵ou never think youB次元官网网址檙e going to be in this situation, but I was grateful for the opportunity.B次元官网网址�

Players on PTOs find themselves in a tricky spot. They want to impress, but also know the camp invite arrived for a specific reason.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think I have to dangle a guy, go coast-to-coast and score every game,B次元官网网址� said Aston-Reese, 28, whoB次元官网网址檚 eyeing a job in Toronto. B次元官网网址淭hey want to see me play physical and be a good depth guy.B次元官网网址�

DeKeyser, who spent 10 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and is looking to grab a spot on VancouverB次元官网网址檚 blue line, said the idea of auditioning for more than one team is something he tries to ignore.

B次元官网网址淢aybe there is somebody else watching as well if it doesnB次元官网网址檛 work out here,B次元官网网址� said the 32-year-old. B次元官网网址淭he main goal in a PTO is trying to impress as many people as you can.B次元官网网址�

With the NHL still coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, its salary cap only went up US$1 million this season to $82.5 million B次元官网网址� the first increase since 2019-20.

With cap space often in short supply, Aston-Reese said not having the phone ring with a contract offer this summer was disheartening.

B次元官网网址淲hat kept me going was thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of guys in my position,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎 lot of good players waited all summer and a lot of good players ended up on PTOs.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪ometimes guys get squeezed out,B次元官网网址� DeKeyser added.

Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe said giving PTOs legitimate chances is important on a few levels.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why you recruited them,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址�(And) if you donB次元官网网址檛 do it, youB次元官网网址檙e unlikely to get anybody in the future. YouB次元官网网址檝e got to treat these guys well.

B次元官网网址淎nybody whoB次元官网网址檚 here is available to compete for a spot in our team B次元官网网址� I want to put them in a position to succeed.B次元官网网址�

An extreme long-shot to make the Leafs, goaltender Dylan Ferguson said itB次元官网网址檚 his job to stay in the building as long as possible.

B次元官网网址淭hings work how they should,B次元官网网址� said the 24-year-old with exactly one game of NHL experience as an emergency recall from junior for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017.

B次元官网网址淚 got a cool opportunity and thought, B次元官网网址楲etB次元官网网址檚 do it.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

The nature of a PTO means itB次元官网网址檚 a last-minute decision in many instances, forcing players to hit the ground running in unfamiliar surroundings with new systems and teammates.

Milano said he spoke to Flames head coach Darryl Sutter for the first time the day before arriving in Calgary.

B次元官网网址淚 have a lot to prove,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 thought I was worthy of a contract after last season.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e just got to prove I can do it again.B次元官网网址�

Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau said itB次元官网网址檚 difficult for PTOs to unseat someone with a contract, but it happens every year around the league.

B次元官网网址�(PTOs) know they have to be good,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淭hey have to be better than good to supplant somebody.B次元官网网址�

Oilers general manager Ken Holland, who brought in Virtanen after the winger was found not guilty of sexual assault by a B.C. Supreme Court jury in July, said high-profile PTOs like the No. 6 pick at the 2014 draft need to understand the landscape has changed.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e just another player who has got to come and bring a dimension to the team that makes it better,B次元官网网址� Holland said. B次元官网网址淵ou have a short window to try to impress.B次元官网网址�

Aston-Reese said he had a few PTO offers, but Toronto was the right fit after more than 250 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

B次元官网网址淚t came down to, B次元官网网址榃hereB次元官网网址檚 the best opportunity for me?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said.

And what about the possibility of catching on somewhere else B次元官网网址� potentially higher up the lineup B次元官网网址� even if the Leafs have a spot available?

B次元官网网址淟ike to think IB次元官网网址檓 a loyal guy,B次元官网网址� he said with a smile. B次元官网网址淣ot in the cards.B次元官网网址�

Demers, meanwhile, is grateful for what could be his last kick at an NHL can.

B次元官网网址淚 kept the faith,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou always hope somebodyB次元官网网址檚 going to give you a chance.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of guys donB次元官网网址檛 get it.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擩oshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press