A trio of ex-Edmonton Oilers have landed on professional tryouts searching for teams to play for.
Three-time Oiler Sam Gagner landed on one with the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, PuckPedia reported. The 35-year-old spent last season with the Oilers, scoring five goals and 10 points in 28 games, while playing 15 with the AHL Condors, adding three goals and nine points.
Gagner, however, didn’t dress for a playoff game, instead serving as a Black Ace with the team. A longtime fan favourite in Edmonton, he said during the Stanley Cup Finals he had to learn how to accept failure.
“I think my relationship with failure has come a long way,” he told me. “I understand more now that that’s part of it, that’s part of having success.
“I’ve overcome some challenges in my career that have helped me understand that perspective, and now I almost get excited when I go through adversity because it’s just another challenge. It’s kind of really helped me to frame it that way, and it’s why I’ve been able to continue to play.
“You have to enjoy doing hard things, and this is really hard. But I’ve learned to love it over the years.”
The other former Oiler landing a tryout is Kailer Yamamoto, who will join the Utah Hockey Club for their inaugural training camp, the club announced Wednesday.
Drafted by the team 22nd overall in 2017, he spent six years in Edmonton before he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in June 2023, only to get released from them days later and land with the Seattle Kraken on a one-year deal.
With the Kraken, he drew in for 59 games, scoring eight goals and as many assists. While he didn’t score many points — nine fewer than his final season in Edmonton — he still provided value, driving offence at a one percent rate above league average and defence at a five percent rate above league average, according to Hockey Viz.
Another former Oiler, Adam Erne, signed a professional tryout this week as well, landing with the New York Rangers.
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@thenationnetwork.com.
