The Calgary Flames have announced a quartet of professional try out players that they’ve invited to their training camp next week. Per the club, the PTOs are forwards @Devante Smith-Pelly, @Tobias Rieder, @Zac Rinaldo and @Alexandre Grenier.
The following players will be attending #Flames camp on a PTO:
Devante Smith-Pelly (RW) – Tobias Rieder (RW/LW) – Zac Rinaldo (LW) – Alexandre Grenier (RW) pic.twitter.com/VlMQ4mzLWq— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 4, 2019
Smith-Pelly, 27, is a right shot winger from Ontario. He was a highly-touted second round pick by the @Anaheim Ducks back in 2010, but he hasn’t solidified himself in any particular NHL role. He’s amassed 395 NHL appearances, but he’s bounced around between Anaheim, Montreal, New Jersey and Washington. He was a useful depth piece for the Capitals in their 2018 Cup run, though. He was coached by Flames associate coach Geoff Ward during his time in New Jersey.
Rieder, 26, is a left shot winger from Germany. He was a 2011 draft pick by the @Edmonton Oilers, but has also spent time with Arizona and Los Angeles. (Brad Treliving knows him rather well.) He didn’t score a single goal in 2018-19 with the Oilers, a fact brought up by Oilers executives during season ticket holder meetings. He’s got good wheels but not a ton of grit, but he might fit in well with the Flames’ transition-based style of game.
Rinaldo, 29, was originally a @Philadelphia Flyers pick back in 2008. He’s also played with Boston, Arizona and Nashville. He’s a fourth line piece. Not a ton of speed, not a ton of offensive upside, but he’s gritty and won’t be terribly expensive. (If they sign him and he doesn’t work out, he’ll easily clear waivers and can be tucked into Stockton.)
Grenier, 27, was a @Vancouver Canucks pick back in 2011. Unlike the other invites, he never really made his way into the NHL as he played just nine games with the Canucks. At this point of his career, he’s a moderately productive AHL body. Unless he really blows the doors off in camp, it’d be extremely surprising if he got on the radar for an NHL contract.
Main camp opens next Thursday with fitness testing. Defenseman Andrew MacDonald is also invited to camp on a PTO.
looks like bt is planning on having a couple of spots open to start the season …. wanna guess why….. snickers.
“Why are the hapless Oilers so continually bad? How is it even possible to turn seven top seven draft picks including four first overalls over seven recent seasons into 70-ish point seasons? Why has Bobby Nicks still got a job?”
flames wasted iggys career and kippers there is lots more gary. so go ahead gary put a team down you were a season ticket holder to. The flames have been no better your just a coward ex oiler fan jumping on another bandwagon. when the flames dive off the cliff ill be laughing hard at guys like you Ha.
Still am an Oiler fan, but it’s just hopeless year after year after friggin year. You comment and embarrass Oiler fans with your constant trashing of a well run organization. We took Puljujarvi ahead of Tkachuk, and your right Calgary has a challenge to sign him, with smarter decisions we would have Calgary’s problem.
your a waste gary……
Take a hike you losers. This is about the Calgary Flames. Why am I reading posts about the Oilers. I dont give a crap about the Oilers. If I cared about the Oilers I would go to Oilers Nation. Get a job dudes.
Abagofpucks most common comeback when someone attacks his oilers like he does the Flames is to personally attacks posters at FN. Why is he not Banned.
“you’re”
Oiler trolls failed English 10.
James the real deal this year Neal looks pretty frisky on the ice, all excited to play for the oilers. Said the 2 years prior to joining the flames might have been what wore him out. i think this could be real funny if he turns into a 50 pt guy, and lucy just stays the same.
yep….
Oilers is wasting McDavid’s career. I won’t be surprise if he will be traded for $$ like Wayne.
hey if he has 4 stanleys when it happens just like wayne then oh well.
why is everything in quotations?
saw lucy on tsn he is still using the same excuses as last year sad sad.
Karma.
Looking forward to the block function that has been added to oilersnation.
That’s rolled out on ON?? Please, please, please….
That and you can see who is trashing and who is cheering comments
And the glorious Edit button
so you have an account in on huh 83.
No abagofpucks…if ever I’ve commented there it’s been as myself. Do you have a seperate account on FN?
ya i see you have been to ON hey someone.
i had tape to tape a couple years ago when that kooky writer ari was banning ppl left and right for laughing at you guys.
Ya…I’m assuming “Someone” is more than likely the iggy complex or one of the other most common FN trolls that hang out over there at ON. I’ve actually had some decent convos’s with certain posters over there so don’t feel the need to hide myself under some other name. I’m assuming the name calling is a result of younger fans never having experienced what a real BOA looks like and think it’s all about who can be the most immature keyboard warrior..cause it hasn’t happened on the ice in forever.
People not ppl.
I dont comment on oilersnation. I do like the quality of writing there though.
Hockey83, You’re assuming I’m a troll based on what the troll here is saying? Stop engaging with trolls and they go away.
None of these guys are better options then what we already have but I’m hoping one of them will surprise me in camp.
Disagree. Devante Smith-Pelly is a beast. Great 4th line winger, knows what it takes to win and will accept his role graciously. Up grade on Hathaway..hands down better than that waste Lomberg.
I kind of like DSP too, but haven’t really watched him. He did show up as one of the NHL’s greatest boat anchors in a recent Athletic article. It’ll be interesting to see him in training camp.
You actually invite Toby Reider, the 3rd worst Oiler last year after Talbot and Lucy. OMG is Calgary actually intentionally trying to suck instead of doing it naturally? Whoever is running that gong show must be blind and stupid.
Unfortunately it’s still the same GM that got us the second best record in the NHL. Times sure are rough for us Flames fans.
The funniest thing about Oilers fans is they need Neal to be a Top. 6 forward.
Whereas Flames fans are only expecting Lucic to be a fourth liner once and awhile and hopefully he’ll be able to add some toughness on occasion (something pretty boy real deal Neal never did).
Bond, just don’t forget that players who leave the oilers play a lot better for their new team! So, you have that to look forward to.
Reider couldn’t play with a bad coiler team so he’s a no. All the others would help the Heat in Stockton with Smith-Pelly being a legit injury replacement. Tkachuk and all the other Donald Fehr puppets will not be starting the season. I will be shocked if the NHLPA don’t exercise they’re 1 year termination of the CBA on sept 15th because that’s what the Don loves to do.
actually your wrong buts he could play, he just had no finish
A legitimate comment that people can cheer … now was that so hard? Constructive contributions are welcome from anyone.
Although also negated by senseless trolling.
Can’t wait until Peters rolls out a line of Lucic – Rinaldo – DSP.
Staring down mcinjury, drippy and butterbunsneal.
“DSP” is no fighter.
Pelly and Rinaldo for shats and giggles, lets goon er up. my pool has 7 entrants now at espn fantasy. sent you an email SkyDog to join yours if not to expensive. Here is a link to mine if you want to check it out flame Fans. Getting excited for the season to get going, although sometimes i wonder why. https://fantasy.espn.com/hockey/league/join?leagueId=28087969&inviteId=6136bb86-d111-4f4b-ae43-3e01d66f92ea
Any cost or free pool?
free to join, likely be $25 from each at end of season with all money payed to top 3 winners. Honor system using etransfer. 2 spots left. https://fantasy.espn.com/hockey/league/join?leagueId=28087969&inviteId=6136bb86-d111-4f4b-ae43-3e01d66f92ea
Hey Hockeyfan.
Not sure I have an email from you. Send me another one. I am having trouble linking names to FN handles. Make sure you put your handle in the email.
I know ESPN had trouble with logging in but that has been fixed. I did try to get into your league but was denied access. I will try again.
You joined and i am in yours.
SF might get his wish, the Heat might have a decent lineup.
These are some pretty notable PTOs! Much better than most years
Rinaldo or DSP would make a great gritty 14th forward (Quine or Czarnik as the 13th to cover the offensive side of things).
Reider would be another great revenge story, but his numbers have never looked flattering.
Grenier? pass
ok we now found out the names of the PTO i report a day ago…Pelly the best of the 4, But i say in under 4 days we will see Roster move from reports..
GFG
Awesome job by BT at managing our salary structure.
No player is bigger than the team.
More to come on D by Friday.
considering some awful signings he has done a decent job.
I can’t believe Rinaldo’s only 29. Seems like he’s been around for much longer. Smith-Pelly played 20 games in the minors, last season. That, too, surprised me a bit. But he’s worth a tryout, though he can’t score.
Rieder’s the interesting one. He’s only 26, when the season starts. He can skate. He’s been double-digit in goals, four of the last five years. What if he has a great camp?
I can see Czarnik in the “A”, or waived/traded.
I was thinking of DSP today as there was an article about him on the Athletic. He’s got a winner’s pedigree. His issue is on the fancy stats side … he is a possession hole and I’m not sure that plays with BP.
He also can’t score. Never could, at this level. We’d get more offence out of Quine, if the two played the same number of shifts.
Still, he’s a fourth line grinder we should take a very close look at. Rieder’s another I am excited about. Just a feeling.
He is not here to score. That’s what the top 9 are for. Any goals from your fourth line are bonus
Maybe Reider is the next Glencross?
You never know. He might be an improvement over Czarnik. So might Smith-Pelly, for that matter.
Hi Iggy. Did you get your oilersnation pass revoked? Lol I’m sure you must have seen the amazing upgrades by now.
Iggster how do you feel about the flames acquisitions so far this off season? Davidson, Talbot, Lucic, Rieder. Lmao
oooh baby you know it AHAHAHA.
Bang on! He is a great pick up
Why am I seeing all of this bashing of Czarnik. I know hes essentially taking a spot over one of our good young players but BT is clearly committed to him and to think one of the invites are leaps and bounds better than him is foolish. Close to the end of the season he actually starting playing some decent hockey along with Mangiapane when everyone else stated to plateau. The only guy who could move into a role over him from the PTO’s is Reider and thats only given that he comes in and looks like he did with Arizona or LA. Stature wise they are the same and Czarnik can occasionally throw his body around. Not one of these guys on invites are making the team out of camp. If they are given a contract it will absolutely be to start the season in the AHL and wait for their opportunity. The only PTO we need to be concerned with is who makes the team as defense.
I don’t mind Czarnik, but I think we can do better than Czarnik, at the same – or maybe even less – “cap hit”.
Ronaldo is a “fourth line piece…”
Nicely played Mr. Pike.
You guys realize his name is “ abagofpucks” for a reason right? That’s what they trade their top ten picks for. AKA Hall. So really the jokes on him. I enjoy his posts because it really shows how bad it is up there. Like really bad. Did you see his post about Neal feeling frisky? Pure comedy gold! The reason why I sign on everyday.
Funny but also sad in a way I guess
I read a comment a month ago that he “abagofpucks” beat up a handicapped.
Don’t get the Grenier pickup, but it’s just a PTO, so I can’t see how it would matter either way.
I like the Reider tryout, as he’s young enough that the first several seasons may be more indicative of what he REALLY brings as opposed to one season.
The DSP option also gets a thumbs up, mainly because when I watched him with the Caps and Ducks, it seemed he was an upgrade to Hathaway…