The Edmonton Oilers may have a familiar name in mind if they go shopping for a professional tryout this fall, and Kurt Leavins of The Edmonton Journal thinks Curtis Lazar makes sense.
With training camp approaching and only four exhibition games to sort through, Leavins argues that the PTO idea looks different than it used to. There’s less runway now, which means teams have to be much more selective about who gets a precious look.
“As Training Camp slowly approaches, talk of possible Professional Try-Outs starts up. I believe the whole concept of PTO’s fit better when pre-season schedules were longer. Now, clubs will want to be damn sure about a try-out candidate to spend one or more of their precious four exhibition games on a guy.”
That logic points toward a player the Oilers already know rather than a mystery option. Leavins specifically floated Lazar, writing, “It is unlikely teams like the Oilers will just take a flier on a player when their own prospects urgently need a look.
Maybe a right-shot Center such as Curtis Lazar? And even then…they’ve seen him enough to know.”
Lazar fits the idea of a known quantity. Edmonton did not bring him back after he handled a steady, if uneven, depth job last season, but he remains unsigned and, by this account, enjoyed his time with the club. He understood his assignment and accepted it, and that kind of player can still matter if a team needs someone to fill a very specific lane.
There’s also a wrinkle here: the bench is changing. Mike Babcock and D.J.
Smith are taking over, so Lazar would be working in front of fresh eyes rather than the same staff that already evaluated him. That could matter if the Oilers decide they want a closer look.
Leon Draisaitl offered his own read on Babcock this week, saying, “I think he’s got a very clear plan, and I think he holds guys accountable, and I think to him, it’s not about who it is when it comes to accountability, you know”? He added, “Like, we’re looking to be coached.”
That description lines up neatly with the kind of player Lazar has been. He has moved around roles to help teams, and he’s said that adaptability is part of what he brings. If Babcock is looking for someone who can take direction, handle responsibility and fit a role without fuss, Lazar would seem to be a logical candidate.
Whether the Oilers actually invite him in is another question, but the fit is easy to see. Lazar looks like the sort of player who could walk into camp, do the work and make a case for himself.
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