The Colorado Avalanche have invited forward Jack Skille and defenseman Andrej Meszaros to training camp on a tryout, according to The Denver Post’s Mike Chambers.
Skille was a 1st round draft pick for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2005 and he wound up playing four seasons with the ‘Hawks. Since then, he spent time with the Florida Panthers before heading to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he played 45 games last season, scoring six goals and two assists.
The 28-year-old forward has played a total of 239 NHL games over which he scored 30 goals and 31 assists.
Meszaros was heavily rumored to be on the trading block last season, but he was never moved, spending the entire season with the Buffalo Sabres, posting seven goals and seven assists through 70 games.
Meszaros finished the season with a score-adjusted CF%Rel of 0.6% on the worst possession team in the league we’ve seen in years, maybe ever. He did that with good relative zone starts at 8.5% ZSO%Rel.
Nonetheless, Colorado’s defense has holes, particularly in the third pairing (and at 1D). Meszaros could help them shore up some of their depth issues if he makes the roster, with some off-season signings like Francois Beauchemin changing the look and needs of the blue line. There are also some interesting prospects, like the recently acquired Brandon Gormley, looking to make an impression and stick at camp.
Lots of familiar names are taking PTOs this season. Keep up with all the tryout contracts with The Hockey Writers’ 2015 PTO Tracker.
