Oilers hand yet another PTO to controversial player
The latest in Edmonton on the opening day of training camp:
On the opening of traning camp, the Edmonton Oilers have announced that they’ve signed forward Mike Hoffman to a professional tryout.
Hoffman is coming off a bit of a down 2023-24 season with the San Jose Sharks, posting just 10 goals and 23 points in 66 games. While he could become a decent middle-six option in Edmonton, fans have immediately been focused on his controversial past, which include some disturbing allegations about he and his longtime girlfriend Monika Caryk.
At the time Hoffman was a member of the Ottawa Senators in 2018, it had been reported that Melinda Karlsson, the wife of All-Star defenseman Erik Karlsson, had filed an order of protection against Caryk, alleging cyberbulling and a “campaign of harassment that plagued the Karlssons” after the loss of their unborn son.
Melinda’s statement to the court said that Caryk wished the baby and her dead, while also wishing someone would take out Erik’s legs to end his career.
It did not take long for Hoffman to be traded by the Senators, along with prospect Cody Donaghey and a fifth-round draft pick in 2020 to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Mikkel Boedker, defenceman Julius Bergman and a sixth-round draft pick in 2020. The Sharks traded Hoffman to the Florida Panthers later in the day.
Hoffman then had a career season as a member of the Panthers in 2018-19 season, scoring 36 goals with 70 points in 82 games. In 745 career NHL games with the Senators, Panthers, St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens and Sharks, Hoffman has recorded 228 goals and 487 points.
He hopes to continue to play, this time in Edmonton, where somehow a lot of second chances are given to players that can be seen as problematic.
