Bakersfield Condors sign Sam Gagner to AHL contract

Sam Gagner is taking his talents to Bakersfield.

On Monday, the Condors’ announced they had signed Gagner to a contract marking his second stint with the AHL club. Previously, Gagner had played four games on a conditioning stint in Bakersfield in 2019.

He will wear his patented No. 89.

Gagner, 34, has played in 1,015 NHL games over 16 seasons scoring 192 goals and 527 assists. He’s no stranger to the American League, either, having played 56 games scoring 15 goals and 47 points.

Those stints came while with the Philadelphia Flyers affiliate in Leigh Valley in 2015-16, and then a longer stint with the Toronto Marlies in 2018-19, where he played 43 games, as well as his aforementioned stint with the Condors.

Gagner re-joined the Oilers organization this past summer joining the club on a professional tryout. Gagner is working his way back from hip surgery, and the hope is that he’ll be able to sign an NHL contract and mark his third stint with the Oilers.

Last year, he played with the Winnipeg Jets scoing eight goals and 14 points, and showed he can still play at a high level. With him on the ice at 5v5, the Jets controlled 52.69 percent of the shot attempt share, 50.93 percent of the scoring chances, and 51.75 percent of the expected goal share. In that time, the Jets outscored their opposition 19-17 with Gagner on the ice.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.