Dumpster Diving on PTOs: How the salary cap squeeze has changed veteran contracts

In 2018 and 2019, Scott Upshall attended the Edmonton Oilers training camp and left without a contract. In the past few weeks, several PTO's have been signed by players who have recently made an impact at the NHL level. Players arriving at training camps are more confident that they will play in the league this coming season. The shift has been perpetuated by the salary cap. Young players are receiving the dollars that used to go to veterans. Mark Giordano took a two-year sweetheart deal with Toronto for $800,000 per season, while Alexander Edler re-upped with the Los Angeles Kings for just $750,00. Paul Stastny signed with Carolina Hurricanes for one- year, $1.5 million.