Summer’s logjam is slowly starting to breakup with the recent news that Milan Lucic is going to St. Louis on a pro tryout. Brendan Smith will be headed to Columbus on a PTO. And don’t think it escaped attention that 38-year old Jack Johnson has agreed to a tryout with Minnesota last week.

Brendan Smith is the last Detroit Red Wings draft pick from 2007 or earlier still active in the NHL. At least he hopes he’ll be in the NHL for another season. The 36-year-old defenseman signed a professional tryout contract Tuesday with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Lucic joined the St. Louis Blues, while Smith is headed to the Columbus Blue Jackets. After Jack Johnson signed a PTO with the Minnesota Wild on Aug. 11, this could be the start of more NHL free agents taking a tryout to convince teams they deserve a contract this fall.

Former Boston Bruins star Milan Lucic is looking to make an NHL comeback as he signed a PTO with a Western team.

The St Louis Blues are taking a chance on a veteran forward. News emerged on Tuesday morning that Milan Lucic signed a professional tryout or PTO agreement with the Blues.

Let's do this! The Cult of Hockey podcast. By the Faithful and for the Faithful. Today Kurt Leavins and David Staples of the Edmonton Journal dig into the McDavid contract, the Oilers being in cap hell, prospect and PTO talk.

The Montreal Canadiens could unlock the full potential of Ivan Demidov this season by turning to his former teammate.

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Detroit Red Wings announced that they will retire No. 91 and put Sergei Fedorov‘s jersey into the rafters. So why the controversy?

Smith spent this past season as a depth defenseman for the Dallas Stars. In 32 games with the Central Division club, he recorded one goal, six assists, 33 penalty minutes, and 41 blocks.