In a move that has stirred up nostalgia among fans, the Edmonton Oilers have officially inked forwards Sam Gagner and Brandon Sutter to professional tryout agreements (PTOs), signaling their return to the team's fold. Rumours floated around throughout the past week, but now it's official:
Sam Gagner's connection with the Oilers runs deep, dating back to his drafting in 2007 as the sixth overall pick. During his initial tenure, he laced up for an impressive 402 games, showcasing his scoring prowess with 88 goals and 158 assists, summing up to 246 points. The 34-year-old skater made a comeback to the Oil Country in the 2018-19 season, contributing to 61 games with 10 goals and 12 assists, accumulating 22 points. However, he was later traded just before the 2020 trade deadline.
Not limited to just one team, Gagner's journey across the league has taken him through various cities and jerseys. With spells at Arizona (2014-15), Philadelphia (2015-16), Columbus (2016-17), Vancouver (2017-19), Detroit (2020-22), and most recently Winnipeg (2022-23), the seasoned player has etched his presence in 1,015 games over an impressive 16 NHL seasons. Throughout this time, he's notched up 192 goals and 327 assists, tallying 519 points and boasting an average of 15 minutes and 46 seconds of Time on Ice (TOI) per game.
Brandon Sutter, another name familiar to Oilers fans, joins Gagner in this return to the team on a professional tryout agreement. While details about his contributions and plans for the upcoming season remain to be seen, Sutter's presence promises to add depth to the roster and inject valuable experience into the team's dynamics.
As the Oilers gear up for the upcoming season, the signings of Gagner and Sutter bring both familiar faces and seasoned skills to the ice. While the story of their impact on the team is yet to unfold, their return certainly sparks excitement among fans and ignites anticipation for the action-packed matches that lie ahead.
