( Photo Credit: Jess Starr / The Hockey Writers )

By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44

This morning, Providence Bruins General Manager Evan Gold announced that the team has signed forward Tyler Pitlick to an American Hockey League professional tryout agreement. Pitlick took part in training camp with the Providence Bruins.

A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Pitlick was selected 31st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Last season, he played 34 games with the New York Rangers, scoring one goal and three assists. Pitlick also spent some time with the Hartford Wolf Pack, registering three goals and four assists in 22 games.

Pitlick is a 6′-2″, 201-pound right-handed center who can also play the wing. He also has 420 games of NHL experience, having spent time with eight organizations. Between Pitlick, Patrick Brown, Vinni Lettieri, and Jordan Oesterle, the Providence Bruins now have four players with 100 or more games of NHL experience under their belt, a luxury that few teams in the AHL have.

It is unknown where Pitlick will slot into Head Coach Ryan Mougenel’s lineup at this time. Given his experience at the center position, he could play alongside top prospect Fabian Lysell. Wherever he may end up in the lineup, Pitlick could bring a veteran presence to a team full of NHL hopefuls.

At 32, Pitlick is the oldest player on the Providence Bruins roster. A PTO in the AHL represents an opportunity for the player to try and climb the ladder and join a Boston Bruins team with hopes of a long playoff run. When Providence takes on the Springfield Thunderbirds this weekend in a home-and-home series, he will hope to take the first step in doing just that.