Drive to the Net: Who are players coming to camp on tryout contracts? taken in Cranberry, Pa. (Weekly Features)

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Austin Wagner, Mark Pysyk, Libor Hajek

CRANBERRY, Pa. -- The Penguins did well in bringing in Brian Boyle on a professional tryout contract back in 2021.

Boyle, coming off a full season in which he didn't play anywhere professionally, impressed enough in training camp and the preseason to earn himself a full contract for the year. He played in 66 games for the Penguins that season, producing 11 goals and 10 assists.

Boyle earning an NHL contract has been the exception in recent years when it comes to the Penguins bringing in players on PTOs. Sometimes players on PTOs earn AHL contracts with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, like Matt Bartkowski did in 2021. More often than not, players are just released at the end of their PTOs and don't play anywhere in the organization afterward, like with Jay McClement (2017), Leland Irving (2016), Sergei Gonchar (2015), and Daniel Carcillo (2014).

The Penguins will have three players on PTOs when on-ice sessions of training camp begin on Sept. 21: Forward Austin Wagner and defensemen Mark Pysyk and Libor Hajek. Wagner, Pysyk and Hajek will be able to participate in the entirety of the Penguins' training camp and play in preseason games, but earn a full contract if they are to play in any NHL games for the Penguins.

Who are those three players coming into camp on PTOs, and what kind of roles might they be able to fill? Let's break it down.

AUSTIN WAGNER
Position: Winger
Age: 26
Size: 6-1, 195
Shoots: Left
2022-23 stats: 7 games, 1 goal, 1 assist (Chicago, NHL), 24 games, 9 goals, 3 assists (Ontario, AHL)

Wagner was an unrestricted free agent this summer after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Blackhawks. He was originally a fourth-round pick of the Kings in 2015, and spent his career in the Kings organization until a trade deadline deal sent him to Chicago in exchange for future considerations. He had spent three years in the NHL with the Kings from 2018-21, but ended up in the AHL full-time during the last two seasons. When the Blackhawk acquired him at the deadline they brought him back up to the NHL, but he was limited to just seven games due to an injury in his hand sustained in a fight in the AHL prior to the trade. The injury became infected and delayed his Blackhawks debut.

When Wagner was in Chicago's lineup he skated exclusively on the left side of the fourth line. When Wagner was in the NHL regularly with Los Angeles, he was primarily on the third or fourth line and played both wings, though he was typically on the right side.

Wagner's greatest asset is undoubtedly his speed. And if you're looking for a comparison style-wise, Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson compared Wagner to Sam Lafferty to reporters last season.

“He’s going to help out on a checking line right off the hop," Richardson said. “He reminds me a little bit of a left-handed Lafferty. He’s got the size, speed and reach, and he’s not afraid to play aggressive. He can create some offense with just that breakaway speed."

Wagner's lone goal with Chicago was this great shot in a game against the Flames:

Wagner's assist was a primary helper in the Blackhawks' win over the Penguins that ended the Penguins' playoff hopes:

Wagner's competition in camp will be the likes of Drew O'Connor, Alex Nylander, Matt Nieto, Rem Pitlick, Andreas Johnsson and Vinnie Hinostroza. Wagner's versatility and ability to play both wings will help his case, and if he impresses enough in the preseason to beat out the competition for a fourth-line role, he could force an existing player to be waived and sent to Wilkes-Barre.

If Wagner doesn't earn an NHL spot out of camp, it's tough to imagine him ending up in the AHL himself. The AHL has a limit when it comes to veteran players that can be in a lineup in any given game, and Wilkes-Barre might have a tough time juggling its veterans as things stand now depending on who ends up there. 

MARK PYSYK
Position: Defenseman
Age: 31
Size: 6-1, 200
Shoots: Right
2022-23 stats: 0 games

Pysyk is coming off of a lost season. He signed with the Red Wings last summer after spending the 2021-22 season with the Sabres. Weeks later, Pysyk tore his Achilles tendon while training and the injury cost him his entire season after a midseason setback further delayed his return. Pysyk did start skating again with the Red Wings toward the end of the season.

Pysyk had a long career in the NHL with the Sabres, Panthers and Stars prior to his injury. He played 68 games for Buffalo in 2021-22, scoring three goals and nine assists and recording a minus-4 rating.

In November, Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said that Pysyk plays a "simple" game and compared him to Olli Maatta.

“Pysyk is more about just being a simple defender,” Lalonde said. “I don’t want to put undue pressure on him because Olli (Maatta) is playing so well right now, but similar, right shot, minute-eating, safe defender, kind of where we want our entire game to be. That was our vision of signing him.”

The top two spots on the right side of the Penguins' defense corps will obviously go to Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang. The competition for the last spot on the right side of the third pairing is between Chad Ruhwedel, Mark Friedman ... and now Pysyk. Being a "simple, safe" defenseman like Lalonde describes makes Pysyk's competition more so Ruhwedel, given their similar roles. Ruhwedel has handled that sixth/seventh defenseman role fine in recent years, and he's someone the coaching staff trusts. Pysyk will have an uphill battle to beat out Ruhwedel for that spot, especially given that he's coming back from a long-term injury.

Just like Wagner, it is tough to imagine Pysyk ending up in Wilkes-Barre if things don't work out in Pittsburgh due to the AHL's veteran limit. With Taylor Fedun, Xavier Ouellet, Will Butcher and Ryan Shea already under contract for next season as well, Wilkes-Barre isn't exactly in need of a veteran blue liner.

LIBOR HAJEK
Position: Defenseman
Age: 25
Size: 6-3, 210
Shoots: Left
2022-23 stats: 16 games, 1 goal (New York Rangers, NHL), 24 games, 2 goals, 4 assists (Hartford, AHL)

Hajek became an unrestricted free agent this summer after he went unqualified by the Rangers. 

Hajek was the Rangers' seventh defenseman for much of last season, losing out to Ben Harpur for a more regular spot in the lineup. Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant cited Hajek's lack of consistency as a factor in the decision. After being limited to just 16 NHL games through the first four months of the season, the Rangers put Hajek on waivers. Hajek cleared and was sent to the AHL, where he finished the season.

Hajek is more of a two-way defenseman, and Gallant praised his skating early last season. 

Hajek's natural side is on the left, though he does have limited experience playing on the right side. Hajek's competition will be the likes of other left-handed defenseman like P.O Joseph, Ty Smith, and Butcher.

Something that might help Hajek's case for sticking around is that he doesn't meet the AHL's requirements to be considered a veteran. Even though Wilkes-Barre already has some pretty solid depth at defenseman, Hajek could play in the AHL there and not complicate the roster when it comes to staying under the veteran player limit. Wilkes-Barre's defense corps will likely include Fedun, Ouellet, Butcher, Shea and only two young players in Jack St. Ivany and Isaac Belliveau. It's still tough to see where Hajek fits in with that group -- ideally, you wouldn't bump St. Ivany or Belliveau from the lineup -- but he could be some added depth at that level.

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