Free Agent winger Mike Hoffman has signed a PTO (Professional Try Out) with the St. Louis Blues as training camp is looming. This allows him to be at camp until he can sign the contract he deserves, once the Blues open up the cap space by putting Tarasenko and another player on LTIR (Long Term Injured Reserve). The PTO is only for to have him around the team for longer, because we all know Hoffman brings a much higher value.

The New York Islanders were very interested in Hoffman’s services, and Hoffman was also interested in the Islanders. The reason a deal didn’t get done was because the Islanders still need to re-sign Mat Barzal. Therefore, Mike Hoffman didn’t want to wait around until Barzal was brought back and wanted to sign elsewhere, which he did.

Hoffman started his career with the Ottawa Senators, and spent 7 seasons with the Sens. After the 2017-18 season he was traded to San Jose but then immediately flipped to Florida, where he has played the last 2 seasons with the Panthers. His career-best seasons were with Florida as in 151 games he has scored 65 goals and 64 assists totaling 129 points. He has put up 50 plus point seasons in all but one year of his career since he has become an NHL regular. Hoffman has 359 total points in 493 NHL games. He can also perform in the postseason by having 19 points in 29 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

There is one big reason why the Islanders desperately missed out on Mike Hoffman. His scoring ability. The strong right winger was just what the Isles needed to add to get over the hump next season after low scoring numbers failed them in the playoffs.  Hoffman would have also been a huge addition on the Isles power play. They struggled heavily on the man-advantage and that is where Hoffman excels. 56 of his points from the last 2 seasons came on the power play.

Putting a player with the skill of Hoffman on the wing of Mathew Barzal would have been incredible. The slow process of signing Barzal back and not being able to sign Mike Hoffman may be a decision the Isles regret. The Islanders had no leverage in negotiations with the cap crunch they are in. Mike Hoffman signing with the Blues will be something the Islanders look at as a missed opportunity for years to come.

John Smark