The Edmonton Oilers announced Tuesday that they have placed forward Sam Gagner on waivers. Gagner currently has five goals and five assists in 27 games, averaging 10:14 of ice time per game. The veteran forward last played Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but had been out of the lineup since February 21 before that.
Gagner, who has been a fan favourite over his three stints with the Oilers after being selected 6th overall in the 2007 draft by the club, has been a productive member of the team’s bottom six this season. His 2.17 points per 60 is sixth best in the league for forwards averaging less than 11 minutes a game. At 5v5, Gagner currently has a 57.61% expected goal share, 54.9% shot attempt share, 57.58% shot share and 50% goal share.
Gagner’s current stint with Edmonton
However, Gagner has not been overly utilized by Oilers Head Coach Kris Knoblauch. Gagner has been scratched for long stretches of the season, as the Oilers have preferred to use Mattias Janmark and Connor Brown as depth wingers. While those two don’t bring nearly the same offensive production, they have been trusted as penalty killers while Gagner has played on neither special teams unit.
The move leaves just 20 players on the Oilers roster heading into Tuesday night’s matchup with the Boston Bruins. That sets the team up well to acquire players heading into Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline, but leaves the club thin through their games this week against the Bruins and Blue Jackets.
Gagner had signed a league minimum, one-year $775,000 contract on October 31 after a brief conditioning stint with the Bakersfield Condors. That contract carries a minor league salary of $250,000 should the 34-year-old pass through waivers. With four days until the deadline, the Oilers will accumulate an extra $16,144 in cap space based on Gagner’s daily cap hit.
