The Boston Bruins are reportedly considering extending Professional Tryout Contracts (PTOs) to forwards Blake Wheeler and Kailer Yamamoto, according to Shawn Hutcheon of The Fourth Period. Wheeler spent the 2023-24 season with the New York Rangers during their run to the Eastern Conference Final. Yamamoto, meanwhile, spent this past season with his hometown Seattle Kraken.
Wheeler began his career with Boston after failing to sign a contract with the Phoenix Coyotes, who drafted the right wing in the first round, fifth overall, in the 2004 NHL Draft. The Minnesota native spent two and a half seasons with Boston, scoring 50 goals with 110 assists in 210 games before a trade to the Atlanta Thrashers. Wheeler spent 13 seasons with Atlanta/Winnipeg and played nearly 900 games before signing with the Rangers as a free agent.
Yamamoto went 22nd overall in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft to the Edmonton Oilers. The forward made his NHL debut during the 2017-18 season, playing in nine games. In 2021-22, Yamamoto scored 20 goals with 21 assists for Edmonton in 81 games.
The Oilers traded Yamamoto to the Detroit Red Wings at the 2023 NHL Draft before Detroit bought him out. Yamamoto signed a one-year contract with the Kraken in NHL free agency before last season. He scored eight goals and 16 points for Seattle in 59 games.
The Bruins are no strangers to PTO deals, signing forward Danton Heinen before last season, who paid dividends by scoring 17 goals for Boston in a successful return to Boston.
