Last week, the Arizona Coyotes announced the players that they signed to professional tryout deals. The Coyotes signed 11 players to PTO deals, including former Coyote Ryan Dzingel.
Organizations signing players to PTOs is pretty common in the lead-up to preseason. It allows teams to see what a player can do without committing to them fully, and it gives players a chance to show what they can do at training camp and during preseason and maybe earn a full contract. And while 11 is uncommonly high, the Coyotes will be playing three games in one day, with a decent chunk of the roster currently in Australia. Also, a decent number are already signed to AHL deals with the Coyotes’ affiliate the Tucson Roadrunners.
But are any of the players the Coyotes signed likely to play in Tempe this season? Probably not, if only because the Coyotes only have room for one more contract and still haven’t signed restricted free agent Jan JenÃk.
That’s not to say that players on PTOs have no reason to try at camp or in preseason games. Unsigned players do have a chance at getting an AHL contract, especially since they will be getting a lot of time with the Roadrunners’ head coach, Steve Potvin, and players already on AHL deals get a chance to impress their boss and get some experience which could help their development.
But let’s meet the new players on PTOs.
Peter DiLiberatore (D)
Originally drafted 180th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Vegas Golden Knights, DiLiberatore had decent success in the NCAA but has struggled in the pro leagues. He spent the 2021-22 season in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights but split last season between the AHL and ECHL. He was eventually sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with a 2024 third-round pick in exchange for Teddy Blueger. DiLiberatore would play for Pittsburgh’s AHL and ECHL teams.
Olli Juolevi (D)
Not long ago, Olli Juolevi was a highly-rated prospect. The Finnish defenseman was drafted fifth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2016 Draft, but he has struggled to find a consistent team since then. Juolevi spent last season in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls, where he played 38 games, registered a goal and 13 assists and finished a -14. A change of scenery could benefit Juolevi who seems like a good candidate for an AHL deal.
Austin Strand (D)
The 26-year-old Calgary native may have gone undrafted but still found his way to the NHL. Strand has spent most of his professional career in the AHL but has 26 games with the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. Strand started the season with the Ducks organization, playing primarily with the Gulls before being traded to the Buffalo Sabres for Chase Priskie. He didn’t suit up for the Sabres, finishing the season in the Rochester Americans, where he registered an assist in nine games.
Hunter Drew (F)
Drafted 178th overall in the 2018 Draft, Drew is another player who spent time in the Anaheim Ducks organization. Drew has appeared in two games with the Ducks but has spent much of his career in the AHL and a lot of time in the penalty box. He played in 44 games with the Gulls last season and finished with 92 penalty minutes, and when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks and reported to the Rockford IceHogs he had 57 penalty minutes in just 16 games. Bokondji Imama is with the Senators’ organization now, so if the Roadrunners are looking for a new tough guy, they may have one if they sign Drew.
Ryan Dzingel (F)
Dzingel is a familiar face, having played 26 games with the Desert Dogs in the 2021-22 season. He was eventually traded with Ilya Lyubushkin for Nick Ritchie and a 2025 second-round pick, but placed on waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and claimed by the San Jose Sharks, where he finished the season. He spent last season with the Chicago Wolves and wore an “A”, but he was limited to just 22 games after suffering a back injury in November that kept him out until March. He would finish the season with two goals and nine assists and as a +5.
Patrick Harper (F)
Drafted 138th overall in 2016 by the Nashville Predators, Harper is returning to North America after playing in Sweden last season. Harper played in the Swedish second league HockeyAllsvenskan last season with Mora IK and Kristianstads IK, finishing with 21 points in 48 total games across the two teams.
Cameron Hebig (F)
Another undrafted player, Hebig has been with the Tucson Roadrunners since being loaned to the team in the 2020-21 season. He has played 161 regular season games with the Roadrunners and has 25 goals and 29 assists. Last season, his stats took a bit of a step back, but he went from being a -32 during the 2021-22 season to a -9. Hebig is already signed to the Roadrunners for a one-year deal.
Micah Miller (F)
Another player who played with the Roadrunners last season, Miller, finished his college career with St. Cloud State University and played two games with the Roadrunners. Miller wasn’t an offensive dynamo in the NCAA, but he wore an “A” for his final year and was an NCHC Champion. Miller signed a two-year deal with the Roadrunners in March, so while a roster spot is unlikely, he should get some valuable experience.
Austin Poganski (F)
Poganski was drafted 110th overall by the St. Louis Blues in 2014 and has played 22 games in the NHL with the Blues and the Winnipeg Jets. He played with the Coachella Valley Firebirds last season, playing in 70 games, registering eight goals and 20 assists and finishing a +14. If the Roadrunners want someone with playoff experience, Poganski could be a good pickup, as he played 24 postseason games last season and five playoff games the year prior.
Colin Theisen (F)
Theisen is another player with a Roadrunners contract, having signed a one-year today. He served a year as captain of the ASU Sun Devils and has played two seasons with the Roadrunners, although he spent 12 games with the Atlanta Gladiators in the ECHL last season. He’s another player unlikely to get an NHL contract but another player who will benefit from an NHL preseason.
Reece Vitelli (F)
Vitelli joined the Roadrunners last season after graduating from the WHL, where he wore an “A” for the Prince Albert Raiders for the past two seasons. He ended up playing most of the season in the ECHL with the Gladiators, where he had 37 points in 49 games. He played 15 games in Tucson, registered a goal, and has already earned a one-year AHL contract.
And that’s it for the PTO players. Some could be a fit for Tucson, some already have their AHL deals, but none of them seem like candidates for NHL deals. But if they can impress enough at camp and in games, anything can happen.