Edmonton Oilers officially release 700-game veteran from his PTO

After reaching the Stanley Cup Finals last season, the Oilers bolstered their forward lineup over the summer, adding players like Jeff Skinner and Victor Arvidsson, who are expected to play key roles. One of the more intriguing additions was Mike Hoffman, who had 23 points last season with the San Jose Sharks. The Oilers gave him a tryout, but after a solid yet unremarkable training camp, the team has announced they've released him, making him a free agent again.

At 34, the decision makes sense for the Oilers, who have younger players like Matthew Savoie and Vasily Podkolzin in their system, likely capable of providing similar production. It's unclear where Hoffman will go from here. He had a smaller role with the Sharks last season and now faces a tough free-agent market with limited spots, especially on the wing.

Hoffman hasn't hit 20 goals since the 2019-20 season, so it's uncertain how much he can contribute at this point in his career. As the Oilers continue building a Stanley Cup-caliber roster, we'll have to wait and see what's next for Hoffman.