According to Shawn Hutcheon of The Fourth Period, the Boston Bruins are considering extending forwards Blake Wheeler and Kailer Yamamoto’s Professional Tryout Contracts (PTO). Wheeler played for the New York Rangers in the 2023-24 season, helping them reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Yamamoto, meanwhile, spent the season with his native Seattle Kraken.
Wheeler began his career with Boston after declining a contract with the Phoenix Coyotes, who selected the right wing in the first round, fifth overall, of the 2004 NHL Draft. The Minnesota native played two and a half seasons with Boston, amassing 50 goals and 110 assists in 210 games before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers. Before joining as a free agent with the Rangers, Wheeler played nearly 900 games with Atlanta/Winnipeg over 13 seasons.
The Edmonton Oilers selected Yamamoto 22nd overall in the first round of the 2017 NHL draft. The forward made his NHL debut in 2017-18, appearing in nine games. Yamamoto played 81 games for Edmonton in 2021-22, scoring 20 goals and 21 assists.
At the 2023 NHL Draft, the Oilers traded Yamamoto to the Detroit Red Wings, who then bought him out. Yamamoto inked a one-year contract with the Kraken during NHL free agency prior to last season. In 59 games with Seattle, he scored eight goals and 16 points.
The Bruins are no strangers to PTO deals, having signed forward Danton Heinen prior to last season, who scored 17 goals for Boston in his triumphant comeback.
