Sam Gagner signs tryout contract to begin 16th NHL season

Sam Gagner was drafted sixth overall by the Edmonton Oilers back in 2007, and has played three separate stints with the Oilers over his journeyman career. Gagner is now 35 years old and has played 1043 career NHL games with seven different teams - the Carolina Hurricanes will be his eighth team.

Last season Gagner played limited minutes in the early part of the year, scoring 5 goals and 10 points in only 28 games. He had a tendency to come up in big moments for the Oilers, earning the nickname Papa Clutch or for his veteran leadership - Papa Oiler.

Even when he wasn't playing much last season, Gagner was a great locker room presence. Gagner has always been a great person and gave his best on the ice, which earned him the respect of Oilers fans - and he always paid that respect back to the community. It would've been nice to bring him back for another year, but the Oilers simply didn't have roster room for him.

Gagner has one of the most memorable nights in all of hockey history with the Oilers. On February 2, 2012, Sam Gagner unloaded for 8 points in a single night, the second most in one game in NHL history.

Gagner has been an Oilers fan favourite for over a decade at this point, and fans have seen him come an go on his own journey through the NHL. Oilers fans will wish him the best in Carolina, and hope that he can keep playing to chase his first Stanley Cup.

Source for Gagner Stats and Contract: PuckPedia - Sam Gagner