Over the weekend, there have been various reports that former Oiler Sam Gagner will sign a professional tryout with Edmonton for the upcoming training camp. The most notable report amongst the noise was likely Gagner’s former teammate Luke Gazdic reporting the news on Sportsnet 960.
Gagner has a long history with the Oilers
The 34-year-old forward played with the Winnipeg Jets last year, recording eight goals and six assists in 48 games with the club. This included a 50.5% expected goal share and 52.3% shot attempt share but just a 46.9% goal share due to low on-ice shooting and save percentages.
Gagner played last season on a one-year contract for the league minimum ($750K) after having two straight one-year contracts for $850K with the Detroit Red Wings. Gagner last played for the Oilers during the 2019–20 season before he was traded as a cap dump to the Red Wings as part of the Andreas Athanasiou trade. This marked the end of the London, Ontario product’s second stint with the Oilers that had begun when he was traded by the Canucks for Ryan Spooner.
Gagner was originally drafted sixth overall by Edmonton in 2007. Through 16 career seasons, Gagner has 519 points in 1,015 games.
The Oilers likely have an edge of getting the veteran forward signed to a PTO due to the numerous ties between him and the organization. Dave Gagner, Sam’s father, is an an agent at Wasserman, now Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations Jeff Jackson’s former agency. Judd Moldaver, who else is based out of the same agency, serves as Gagner’s agent. There are also still multiple Oilers that Gagner played with on the squad. This past week, Gagner has posted pictures with current Oilers Leon Draisaitl and Ryan McLeod on social media.
Gauging interest on Gagner
Gagner would present a cost effective depth piece that could bring a scoring touch in the bottom-six. With the Oilers’ being up against the cap and facing a long season with limited options, having quality NHL players that can contribute will be essential to long term success over the season.
Photo by Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This makes no sense to me. Sure it is a feel good story, but the Oilers need a tough, defensively sound, centre that can penalty kill. Sam is a terrible fit. I would find someone totally different. Even Puljujarvi would be a far better fit
I agree 100%.
Besides, the comment posted re:Gazdic is speculation, not a confirmation.
I agree that there isn’t anything substantial to this “report” and I don’t think Gazdic was trying to indicate otherwise.
I’m fine bringing Gagner to camp and he can compete with Pederson, Lavoie and Sutter for 12F. I don’t see Gagner as the right fit either but, if he’s 14F depth in the org, that’s not the worst outcome – I’d rather have him as a call-up option than Drake, for example.