Oilers cut Jake Virtanen from tryout deal

The Edmonton Oilers released forward Jake Virtanen from his professional tryout agreement on Thursday.

Virtanen, 26, put up two assists in six preseason games.

The Oilers drew heavy criticism when they brought Virtanen to camp.

Virtanen was found not guilty of sexual assault by a jury in late July after he was charged in January. In May 2021, a woman said in a lawsuit that Virtanen assaulted her in a Vancouver hotel room in 2017.

The lawsuit also said the woman suffered physical and emotional damages. Virtanen denied the allegations.

The Vancouver Canucks, who drafted Virtanen with the sixth overall pick in 2014, cut ties with him shortly after the allegations surfaced and bought out his contract.

Virtanen spent the 2021-22 campaign with the KHL's Spartak Moscow, where he mustered 16 points in 36 games.

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