Panthers sign Letestu to professional tryout
The Florida Panthers have signed forward Mark Letestu to a professional tryout, the team announced Tuesday.
The 33-year-old is coming off a 2017-18 season split between the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets. He tallied eight goals and 19 points with Edmonton in 60 contests and another four points in 20 games with Columbus.
If Letestu and FLA don’t agree on a one-way deal in early Oct, don’t be surprised if Letestu circles back and accepts #CBJ two-way deal. His choice on a two-way deal would be with Columbus.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) August 14, 2018
After not talking most of the summer, Letestu and CBJ had a late-summer round of talks.
Letestu, who's traditionally played center, could face a tough challenge if he hopes to land a job at the position with the Panthers. Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck hold down the first two spots, so the veteran would likely have to edge out either Henrik Borgstrom or Derek MacKenzie for a bottom-six center job.
Letestu has amassed 93 goals and 210 points during 558 games across his nine-year NHL career.