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2 Former Detroit Red Wings released from PTO opportunities: A new all-time low
Photo credit: NHL.com
Two former Detroit Red Wings players were released from their professional tryouts and reached a new low as we get closer to the start of the 2025-26 NHL season.
Training camps and professional tryouts bring big opportunities for players to make it to the NHL, but they also come with a lot of disappointment.
Most players don't make it to the NHL. Even being drafted doesn't guarantee you a spot on a lineup, forcing some players to pursue hockey elsewhere or different career ventures altogether.
In the past days, two former Detroit Red Wings players were released from their PTOs.
Former Wings Players Cross Hanas And Brendan Smith Released From PTOs
Cross Hanas, drafted 55th overall by the Wings in 2020, signed a PTO with the Dallas Stars a few weeks ago.
The organization announced a massive wave of cuts yesterday, and Hanas was featured on the list:
Hanas took part in one preseason game, on September 23, against the Minnesota Wild, where he was kept away from the scoresheet.
The other former Wing is the 36-year-old veteran Brendan Smith, who wore the Wings uniform for six seasons between 2011 and 2017. He was also drafted by Detroit, in 2007, with the 27th overall pick.
He signed a PTO with the Columbus Blue Jackets in August and was released by the team during the weekend in a massive roster cut announcement:
It'll be interesting to see what the two players do next, but at this point, don't be surprised if they sign a contract in Europe.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 29 | 232 ANSWERS 2 Former Detroit Red Wings released from PTO opportunities: A new all-time low Do you think Cross Hanas will join another NHL team this season? | ||
| Yes | 110 | 47.4 % |
| No | 122 | 52.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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