Teams around the NHL are now beginning to sign players to professional tryout (PTO) agreements. Goaltender Cal Petersen recently landed a PTO with the Washington Capitals, while former Toronto Marlies forward has signed one with the Calgary Flames.
The Maple Leafs have yet to invite a player to their training camp on a PTO, but they should seriously consider changing that. When looking at their current roster, it is fair to argue that they could use more competition when it comes to their blueline. This is especially the case when it comes to their right side, though.
Although there are not a ton of right-shot defenseman free agents left, there is one who could make a lot of sense for the Maple Leafs to take a chance on with a PTO: Adam Boqvist.
Boqvist played in just 28 games last season with the New York Islanders, where he recorded four assists and a minus-9 rating. Although these numbers do not stand out, his previous success would make him an interesting player for Toronto to take a gamble on with a PTO.
Boqvist has shown in the past that he can provide some offense from the point. During the 2022-23 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the 2018 eighth-overall pick recorded a career-high 24 points in just 46 games. This was after he scored a career-high 11 goals and posted 22 points in 52 games for Columbus in 2021-22. With past numbers like these, the Maple Leafs should consider taking a look at him on a PTO.
If Boqvist impressed on a PTO and earned a contract for the season, he could create some competition for the Maple Leafs' bottom pairing. Yet, even if Toronto had Boqvist slotted as an extra defenseman, he could still benefit their roster. Injuries around the league can pick up quickly, and teams can never have enough NHL-caliber depth because of it.
Why the Maple Leafs could avoid signing Boqvist
While the idea of the Maple Leafs signing Boqvist is an interesting one, it would also be understandable if they did not bring him in. They have a few depth defensemen to work with already, like Troy Stecher, Philippe Myers, and Dakota Mermis. In addition, they have prospect blueliners like Ben Danford and William Villeneuve in their system who could be call-up candidates during the season.
Due to this, it would probably make more sense for Toronto to give Boqvist a PTO before potentially signing him to a contract for the season. This would allow them the chance to see if he could be a fit on their roster. If not, they could simply release him from his PTO without giving him a deal. Thus, there would be no risk in Toronto adding him on a PTO.
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