Former Vancouver Canucks Fan Favourite Gets Last Shot in NHL After Signing PTO with with Florida Panthers

As the month of September rolls along and training camps around the league are set to open up next week, we're starting to see more action on the PTO market.

Heading into today, a total of ten players put pen-to-paper on PTOs with teams around the National Hockey League, including Vancouver native Milan Lucic, who is joining the St. Louis Blues after nearly a two-year absence from professional hockey.

On Wednesday, three more unrestricted free agents opted to go down the professional tryout route, including a former Vancouver Canucks fan favorite.

In a social media post on Wednesday morning, NHL insider Frank Seravalli revealed that former Vancouver Canucks forward Tyler Motte, who had been linked with a return to British Columbia this summer, has signed a professional tryout with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Seravalli also shared that goaltender Kevin Mandolese has landed a PTO with the Montreal Canadiens and defenseman Ben Harpur will be joining Tyler Motte in South Florida.

Motte, 30, spent parts of five seasons with the Vancouver Canucks between February 2018 and March 2022, where he registered 50 points (28 goals, 22 assists) in 196 games before being dealt to the New York Rangers for a fourth round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

The St. Clair, Michigan native suited up in his home state last season with the Detroit Red Wings, putting up nine points in 55 games, but the club decided not to bring him back for a second year, making him an unrestricted free agent on Canada Day.

Motte will be given ample opportunity throughout Florida's training camp to prove himself and has a good chance at earning a one-year contract with the Panthers, at league minimum, by the time the team's preseason schedule wraps up on October 4th against the Tampa Bay Lightning.