NHL veteran Derek Stepan signs a PTO contract

Veteran NHL forward Derek Stepan has signed a professional tryout (PTO) contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.

The 32 year old Stepan played 58 games with the Hurricanes last season and was relatively productive, putting up nine goals and 19 points. He's no longer the 20 goal man he was in his days with the New York Rangers, but he's still a relatively productive and useful forward and, at just 32 years old, I'm kind of surprised that he couldn't earn himself a standard player contract. Maybe he's just intent on cracking Carolina's roster and isn't interested in signing with another team?

In any case, here's hoping Stepan's either able to catch on with the Hurricanes or, at the very least, he earns the attention of another team out there looking for a quality depth veteran.