According to Shawn Hutcheon of The Fourth Period, the Boston Bruins are thinking about giving forwards Blake Wheeler and Kailer Yamamoto Professional Tryout Contracts (PTOs). Wheeler played for the New York Rangers during their journey to the Eastern Conference Final in 2023–2024. In contrast, Yamamoto played with the Seattle Kraken of his hometown during the previous season.
After failing to agree to terms with the Phoenix Coyotes, who selected the right wing in the first round of the 2004 NHL Draft, fifth overall, Wheeler started his career with Boston. Before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers, the Minnesota native played for two and a half seasons with Boston, where he scored 50 goals and dished out 110 assists in 210 games. Before joining the Rangers as a free agent, Wheeler played nearly 900 games over 13 seasons with Atlanta/Winnipeg.
The Edmonton Oilers selected Yamamoto with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft. The forward participated in nine games on his NHL debut in 2017–18. In 81 games for Edmonton in 2021–2022 Yamamoto scored 20 goals and provided 21 assists.
At the 2023 NHL Draft, Yamamoto was traded by the Oilers to the Detroit Red Wings, who later acquired him. Prior to the previous season, Yamamoto signed a one-year NHL free agency contract with the Kraken. In 59 games, he scored 16 points and eight goals for Seattle.
PTO deals are nothing new for the Bruins; prior to the 2018 campaign, they signed forward Danton Heinen, who proved valuable by leading Boston to victory with 17 goals in his comeback to Boston.
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