Rangers Sign Former Red Wing to PTO

A former Red Wing is trying to earn an NHL job in training camp.

Adam Erne, a 29-year-old winger, signed a professional tryout (PTO) deal Tuesday with the New York Rangers, as reported by The Athletic's Arthur Staple and TSN's Darren Dreger. Erne played four seasons with the Red Wings, and was one of Steve Yzerman's first acquisitions when he became Detroit's general manager.

Erne started his career with Tampa Bay back when Yzerman served as the Lightning's general manager. Picked early in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft, Erne struggled to assert himself at the NHL level in his early career, finally breaking through with a full NHL season in 2018-19 after two seasons split between the AHL and NHL. His 20 points that season made him a promising prospect, especially considering that his primary contribution was his physicality. That's why Yzerman traded a fourth round pick for Erne in August 2019, banking on the player developing into a bottom six contributor for a relatively cheap cost. Erne was the first signed player acquired by trade in the Yzerman era.

At first, Erne struggled in Detroit. In 56 games his first season, he tallied five points while recording 142 hits. Even if the physicality helped Detroit, the scoring touch to add complexity to his game didn't immediately translate. However much Erne might have struggled to maintain his previous form, that season's Red Wings were also a trainwreck, recording just 17 wins in a regular season cut short by COVID-19. One could expect poor numbers all around from Detroit's players.

Considering the context of the overall team, Erne earned another chance in Detroit as Yzerman kept him around on a one-year extension. It was wise work. Erne scored a career-best 11 goals and 20 points in 45 games during the 2020-21 season. He earned another contract, sticking around through 2022-23 and chipping in a similar offensive footprint the next two seasons. More importantly, he logged 545 hits in 241 career games in Detroit, proving effective in the bottom six and earning some penalty kill time in his final season with the Red Wings.

As Yzerman continued to add talent through free agency, Erne became expendable. He didn't earn another extension last offseason, and instead signed with Edmonton under former Detroit general manager Ken Holland. He spent more time in the minors last season than at the NHL level, but he did get into 24 games with the Oilers and logged 68 hits.

Now, Erne hopes to make it back to the NHL level with his PTO in New York. His physical play makes him useful depth for teams lacking grit, even if one can't expect him to be a consistent offensive contributor.

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