Derek Roy spent his summer training in Toronto, working out with former player-turned-trainer Gary Roberts and his legion of NHL clients, arriving at the rink each day still wondering whether he would have a job come fall. He was not alone in this regard, one of several across the league pursuing a professional tryout agreement (PTO), because guaranteed contracts simply weren’t available. Curtis Glencross, Brad Boyes, Tomas Fleischmann – all veterans left with no other choice.
“It was definitely tough,” Roy said. “Those guys are in the same boat. I was looking at all the other guys, seeing if they’re signing as well, if they’re waking up in the morning and working that much harder to get where you want to be.