Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said Thursday that the former Canes forward, who did not play in the NHL last season, has been invited to the team's preseason training camp next month. O'Neill, a nonrestricted free agent, has not signed a contract.

"In training camp, the door is open for players to make the team," Rutherford said. "That's the opportunity we'll give him. He said he plans to come in early and work out with the guys. He has the right mind-set.

"We have talked about a contract, but it makes sense for him to come to training camp for the tryout and then us talk about a contract."

O'Neill, 32, was the first-round pick of the Hartford Whalers in the 1994 NHL entry draft -- and Rutherford's first pick as GM. He ranks third in franchise history in points (416), fourth in games played (673) and goals (198) and fifth in assists (218).

O'Neill scored 41 goals in 2000-01. Only Eric Staal, with 45 goals in 2005-06, has scored more for the Canes since then.

The Canes traded O'Neill to Toronto in August 2005. O'Neill was trying to come to grips with the death of his brother, Donny, who had died in a car accident, and he considered retirement.

After scoring 19 and 20 goals for the Maple Leafs the next two seasons, O'Neill did retire.

"Jeff took a year off," Rutherford said. "When a player takes a year off, you need to see how he recovers. We'll see how he does at camp."

Rutherford said it's possible O'Neill could have an impressive tryout, sign a contract, then play for the Albany River Rats (AHL).

"Get his timing back, work on his conditioning," he said.

And if that works out? Could he be back in a Canes uniform again?

"Jeff's been a good player over the course of his career," Rutherford said.

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