Sam Gagner signs contract with Oilers’ AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors

Forward Sam Gagner has signed a professional one-year contract with the Bakersfield Condors, the Edmonton Oilers’ AHL affiliate.

This is Gagner’s second trip to the Condors, recording four points in four games in 2019-20.

Gagner had previously joined the Oilers during training camp on a PTO, but wasn’t cleared for games after undergoing double hip surgery over the offseason. The 34-year-old was limited to just 48 games with the Winnipeg Jets last year, scoring eight goals and 14 points.

Drafted sixth overall by the Oilers in 2007, Gagner spent went straight from the OHL’s London Knights to the NHL in 2007-08. Gagner had a solid 49-point rookie season, his best career output before putting up 50 with Columbus in 2016-17. Gagner had an eight-point night for the Oilers back in 2012, which only helped his status as a fan favorite.

After leaving the Oilers in 2014, Gagner found himself bouncing around the NHL. The veteran spent time in Arizona, Philadelphia, Columbus, Vancouver Detroit and Winnipeg, while also returning to the Oilers in 2018-19. During that time, Gagner also saw some AHL Time with Lehigh Valley, Toronto and Bakersfield.

The London, Ontario native has played 1,015 NHL games over 16 seasons, scoring 192 goals and 527 points.

With Gagner getting closer to playing action, he could still be a depth option for the Oilers down the line. He’d still have to sign an NHL contract, but the Oilers currently have $382,760 in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly. Connor McDavid is out for the next 1-2 weeks, but he and his $12.5 million cap hit won’t be out long enough to go on injured reserve. The Oilers added some extra depth over the offseason, signing Connor Brown to a league-minimum $775,00 deal before inking Adam Erne after training camp.