The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Jake Virtanen and defenseman Jason Demers to professional tryout contracts on Monday.
The #Oilers have signed defenseman Jason Demers and forward Jake Virtanen to professional tryout (PTO) contracts. https://t.co/lm3ZctpYao
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 19, 2022
Virtanen, 26, spent last season with Spartak Moscow of the KHL, where he registered nine goals and 16 points in 36 games.
The sixth overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2014 draft, Virtanen was placed on administrative leave by the Canucks on May 1, 2021, after sexual assault allegations were made against him. His contract was bought out by the team two months later.
He was charged with sexual assault in January 2022 following an investigation by the Vancouver Police Department into an incident that occurred in September 2017. Virtanen was found not guilty by a jury in July.
In 317 career NHL games, the Abbotsford, BC native has 55 goals and 100 points.
Demers is back in the NHL with the Oilers
Demers also spent time last season in the KHL with Ak Bars Kazan and represented Canada at the Winter Olympics, appearing in five games and recording a pair of assists. He had one assist in five KHL games.
The 34-year-old last played in the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes in the 2020-21 season, when he had four assists in 41 games.
A seventh-round pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Demers has 45 goals and 169 assists in 699 career games.
Over 12 seasons in the league, Demers has spent time with the Sharks, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers and Coyotes.
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