Report: Raphael Diaz accepts tryout invitation from Calgary Flames
Swiss Olympian and right-handed shooting blue-liner Raphael Diaz has reportedly accepted a professional tryout (PTO) invitation from the Calgary Flames, and will join the Western Canadian club at training camp. From Tages-Anzeiger reporter Silvan Schweizer:
Raphael #Diaz accepts the invitation for tryout of the #CalgaryFlames, joins Bob #Hartley and Sven #Baertschi in Camp.
— Silvan Schweizer (@SchweizerSilvan) September 8, 2014
Diaz reportedly had PTO offers from two other teams, one of which was the Detroit Red Wings. The Dallas Stars, who will enter the season with zero right-handed defenders on the roster, were apparently not among the teams in on inviting Diaz to training camp.
A capable third-pairing defender and power-play specialist, Diaz bounced around the league in a major way during a 2013-14 season that saw him log minutes for the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers. He'll be in tough to crack a Flames lineup that is relatively deep along the blue-line, and includes six defenders (and one swingman in Deryk Engelland) signed to one-way NHL contracts.