Eric Gryba is returning to Edmonton, though not with the security he’d like.
The veteran d-man has agreed to attend Oilers training camp on a PTO, per the Journal. The decision comes after Gryba spent nearly the entire offseason hoping for a contract from another NHL club -- an offer that never came to fruition.
So, it’s the tryout route.
The 28-year-old was acquired by Edmonton at the 2015 draft, and proceeded to play 53 games last year. Over that spell, Gryba did what Gryba does -- throw plenty of hits, rack up plenty of PIM and man the penalty kill.
Limited offensively and not the fastest skater, Gryba will be in a battle to secure a contract in Edmonton. The club’s top six projects to be comprised of Oscar Klefbom, Brandon Davidson, Andrej Sekera, Darnell Nurse, Mark Fayne and newly acquired Adam Larsson, with Griffin Reinhart and Jordan Osterle in the mix for depth spots.