Sam Gagner, a forward, was placed on waivers by the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday with the intention of assigning him to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League.
The 34-year-old’s career totals with the Blue & Orange throughout three separate stints with the club are 116 goals and 211 assists in 569 games. This season, he has five goals and five points in 27 games with the Oilers.
Following a fruitful Professional Tryout in the fall, the three-time Oiler was signed by the team. Since making a remarkable comeback to the lineup against the Dallas Stars in early November, he has added depth scoring. An injury sustained just before Christmas cost him his starting position. He made a brief comeback in late January, but right wing Corey Perry, another UFA signing, eventually took his place.
Since then, Gagner has primarily been used as the “13th forward,” coming into the lineup on occasion to replace a forward who is injured, like Derek Ryan did on Sunday against Pittsburgh. Gagner didn’t hit the scoresheet in that game, despite playing well.
He has participated in nine of Edmonton’s twenty-five games since the year began, collecting one point.
Put differently, the cap space is the most important factor, not the player. Gagner satisfies the league minimum, but it is a fact that the Oilers may need to move quickly to accommodate a newcomer or players under the limit if they take on additional salary in a future transaction. They can send Gagner to Bakersfield the instant a trade is revealed later this week if necessary, as they have the option to waive him today. That is, assuming he clears.
