Free Agent Winger Talks Growing Up, Playing Junior Hockey In Washington State
Even in an NHL where hulking size is no longer a must, some still wonder if Kailer Yamamoto is up to the challenge.
Despite selecting him as their top draft pick in 2017, the Edmonton Oilers no longer thought so. They traded the 5-foot-8, 155 pound winger during the off-season to Detroit, in what was essentially a salary dump. The Red Wings didn't think so, buying out Yamamoto's contract a week later, making him a free agent.
The Seattle Kraken did think so; they inked the winger to a one year, $1.5 million contract.
If Yamamoto can produce in 2023-24 the way Seattle hopes, it will be a double feel-good story. Not only will he have proven the doubters wrong, he will have done it for the club from his home state.
Kailer Yamamoto, native of Spokane, four-year stalwart with the WHL Spokane Chiefs, is today's Kraken Quotable.