Former Winnipeg Jets forward Sam Gagner signs professional tryout with the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday
Former Winnipeg Jets forward Sam Gagner signs professional tryout with the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday
Former Winnipeg Jets forward Sam Gagner signed a professional tryout offer Wednesday with the Carolina Hurricanes. The 35-year-old veteran forward is coming off a decent season with the Edmonton Oilers, where he recorded five goals and five assists for ten points in 28 games.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmh5fFbV2VQ[/embed]
Gagner has been reportedly interested in taking on a player development role with the Oilers organization if he can not find a team willing to sign him for his 18th NHL season. The London, ON native played 48 of his 1,043 career NHL games with the Jets during the 2022-23 season, where he recorded eight goals and six assists for 14 points. His presence in the Jets locker room proved to have an impact and he ended the season with a nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
Despite Gagner's lengthy career and suiting up for seven different NHL teams, he has struggled to find success in the postseason with four points in 11 career playoff games.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MlOoT5BMXU[/embed]
His most memorable moment of his career was when he recorded four goals and four assists for eight points in a single game, when playing with the Oilers against a Chicago Blackhawks team that was in the prime of their dynasty run in 2012. He followed it up with some decent seasons like in 2016-17 when he finished third on the team with 32 assists and totaled a career-high 50 points.
Gagner will look to continue playing at the NHL level and should garner some interest as a journeymen with over 1,000 games played, who could provide valuable insight to young players on teams like the Sabres, Senators and Canadiens, who are the top three youngest NHL rosters.