The St. Louis Blues are getting in the PTO game and have signed two players to professional tryouts just ahead of the team’s training camp. Adding a ton of experience — but players who offer much different skill sets if either player makes the team — the Blues are bringing in James Neal and Michael Frolik to professional tryouts.
Neal is coming off a buyout with the Edmonton Oilers. A couple of injuries hampered his season, but if healthy, he could be an option on offense and has the ability to score goals, especially on the power play where he still posesses a strong shot and knack for scoring in bunches. Now 34, he was once one of the most consistent goal scorers in the NHL. Frolik, on the other hand, is more of special teams and penalty-killing addition. Now 33, Frolik was limited to mostly taxi squad duty last season for the Montreal Canadiens. In eight games, he didn’t record a single point.
The Blues, meanwhile are still looking to trade Vladimir Tarasenko before the season begins and just brought back Tyler Bozak to a league-minimum contract for one season. The potential additions of Neal and Frolik are just ways to add a couple of forwards on the cheap if either or both make the roster.
Keep in mind, these are only tryouts and do not mean that either player will be part of the Blues’ roster when the 2021-22 NHL regular season begins.
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