Oilers get turned down twice by the same player!

Earlier today it was announced that forward Zach Aston-Reese had agreed to a professional tryout contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The news came after chatter emerged that a few teams were looking to add Aston-Reese on a PTO, which included the Edmonton Oilers.

However, as Jim Matheson and Mike Stephens confirm, this is the second time the Oilers went after Aston-Reese and were rejected.

It had been revealed before the Maple Leafs' announcement on Friday that the Oilers were looking at the free agent forward. Mark Spector had pointed out that the Edmonton was interested in signing Aston-Reese to a professional tryout contract, however, Toronto beat them to it. 

Undrafted to begin his NHL career, Aston-Reese became coveted on the college free agency market and the Oilers wanted him once he got out of Northeastern University at the conclusion of the 2016-17 college season. But he turned down the offer from the Oilers…

He went on to sign a two-year, entry-level deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017 and cracked the NHL for the first time in 2017-18. He spent four seasons with the Penguins before they traded him at the most recent deadline, along with with Calle Clang, Dominik Simon a second round pick in the 2022 draft ( which became Tristan Luneau ) to the Anaheim Ducks in return for Rickard Rakell. Playing for the Penguins and Ducks last year, he finished with five goals and 15 points in 69 games.

He will attempt to crack the roster in Toronto while the Oilers will swallow this other rejection from Aston-Reese.