Sam Gagner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sam Gagner |
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Gagner with the Edmonton Oilers in 2012
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| Born | August 10, 1989 London, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Free agent Edmonton Oilers EC KAC Arizona Coyotes Philadelphia Flyers Columbus Blue Jackets Vancouver Canucks Detroit Red Wings Winnipeg Jets |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| NHL Draft | 6th overall, 2007 Edmonton Oilers |
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| Playing career | 2007–present | ||
Sam William Gagner (born August 10, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He recently played for the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Sam is currently an unrestricted free agent, which means he can sign with any team.
The Edmonton Oilers first picked Sam in the 2007 NHL Draft. He was the sixth player chosen overall! He played for the Oilers for seven years. After that, he played for several other teams, including the Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Vancouver Canucks. Sam even returned to Edmonton twice more during his career. He also played for the Detroit Red Wings and the Winnipeg Jets.
Contents
Sam Gagner's Hockey Journey
Starting Out: Amateur Years
Sam Gagner started playing midget hockey (a youth league) with the Toronto Marlboros in 2004–05. He scored an amazing 173 points that season! He also won the Buck Houle Award for being an outstanding player and leader.
In the same year, he began playing junior hockey for the Milton Icehawks. His dad was even his coach during his minor hockey days. In 2005–06, Sam joined the Sioux City Musketeers and scored 46 points. He played with future NHL star John Tavares on both the Marlboros and Icehawks. They even practiced together on a backyard rink built by Sam's dad!
Sam first planned to play college hockey at the University of Wisconsin. But he later decided to play major junior hockey closer to home. The Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s London Knights picked him in 2005. In the 2006–07 season, Sam played on a top line with future NHL stars Patrick Kane and Sergei Kostitsyn. He scored 118 points in just 53 games! He also captained a team in the 2007 CHL Top Prospects Game, which his team won.
Becoming a Pro: NHL Career
Joining the Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers drafted Sam Gagner in the first round in 2007. He was the sixth player picked overall! On October 1, 2007, he signed his first professional contract with the Oilers.
Sam played his very first NHL game on October 4, 2007. He earned his first NHL point by helping on a goal. On October 20, Sam scored his first NHL goal against the Calgary Flames.
In his first full NHL season (2007–08), Sam was the youngest player in the league. He scored 49 points in 79 games. He played on a line called the "Kid Line" with other young players. Sam also played in the 2008 NHL YoungStars Game. He was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for February 2008. He even set an Oilers record for the longest streak of assists by a rookie.
In the 2008–09 season, Sam scored his first career NHL hat-trick (three goals in one game)! He also added an assist, giving him four points in one game. He finished that season with 16 goals and 41 points. Over the next two seasons, he continued to score around 41 or 42 points.
On March 9, 2011, Sam had a serious injury to his left hand. A teammate's skate blade accidentally cut him. He needed surgery and missed the rest of that season. He returned to play on October 22, 2011.
A few months later, on February 2, 2012, Sam had an incredible game against the Chicago Blackhawks. He scored four goals and four assists, totaling eight points! This tied the Oilers' team record for most points in a game, a record also held by legends like Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey. He was also the first NHL player since 1989 to score eight or more points in a single game. Just two days later, Sam scored two goals and an assist in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings. This set a new Oilers record with 11 points in a row! Sam finished that season with 47 points.
During the 2012–13 NHL lockout (when players and teams couldn't agree on a contract), Sam played in Austria for Klagenfurter AC. After the lockout, the Oilers signed Sam to a new three-year contract.
Moving to Arizona
On June 29, 2014, Sam was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. But he was only a Lightning player for about an hour! He was then traded again to the Arizona Coyotes.
With the Coyotes, Sam tried playing as a right wing instead of his usual center position. He found good chemistry playing with center Martin Hanzal. They combined for 16 points in just five games in late 2014 and early 2015.
Playing for Philadelphia and Columbus
On June 27, 2015, Sam was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Coyotes' general manager said they traded him because they didn't think he could play center well enough in the NHL.
On August 1, 2016, Sam signed a one-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had a fantastic season with the Blue Jackets, scoring a career-high 50 points! After this great season, Sam signed a three-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks.
Vancouver and Back to Edmonton
Before the 2018–19 season, the Canucks placed Sam on waivers. This meant other teams could claim him. He was not claimed, so he was sent to the Toronto Marlies, a minor league team. He played well there, scoring 15 points in 15 games. The Canucks called him back up to the NHL team for a short time.
On February 16, 2019, Sam was traded back to his original team, the Edmonton Oilers! He played 36 games for the Oilers in the 2019–20 season, scoring 12 points.
Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets
On February 24, 2020, Sam was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. He played six games for them before the season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He signed two more one-year contracts with the Red Wings.
On September 2, 2022, Sam signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets. On December 29, 2022, Sam played his 1,000th NHL career game! This is a huge milestone for any hockey player. He scored 14 points in 48 games that season. However, his season ended early in March 2023 because he needed surgery on both of his hips.
Third Time with Edmonton
After his season with the Jets, Sam was a free agent. He accepted an invitation to return to the Oilers on a professional tryout contract for the 2023–24 season. He was still recovering from his hip surgery and didn't play in any pre-season games.
On October 23, 2023, Sam signed a one-year contract with the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers' minor league team. But just eight days later, on October 31, the Oilers signed him to a one-year NHL contract! This marked his third time playing for the team. In his first game back with Edmonton, Sam scored two goals!
Playing for Canada: International Games
.jpg) Gagner with Canada at the 2007 Super Series |
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| Medal record | ||
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| Representing Canada |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championship | ||
| Silver | 2008 Canada | |
| World Junior Championship | ||
| Gold | 2007 Sweden | |
| Spengler Cup | ||
| Gold | 2012 Davos | |
Sam has played for Canada in several international tournaments.
In 2007, he played in the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Sweden. He was the youngest player on the team! Canada won the gold medal that year.
Later in 2007, Sam played in the 2007 Super Series. This was an eight-game series between Canada's and Russia's junior teams. Sam scored 15 points and was named the series' Most Valuable Player (MVP)! Canada won the series easily.
After his first NHL season, Sam played for Canada in the 2008 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. Canada won the silver medal that year.
In December 2024, Sam was chosen to play for Canada in the 2024 Spengler Cup in Switzerland.
Sam Gagner's Life Off the Ice
When Sam was a rookie with the Oilers, he lived in a house with teammates Andrew Cogliano and Tom Gilbert. In the off-season, Sam goes back to his hometown of London, Ontario.
Sam's dad, Dave Gagner, was also a professional NHL player! Dave played for 15 seasons with many different teams. Because of his dad's career, Sam grew up in many different cities across North America.
Sam married his longtime girlfriend, Dr. Rachel Linke, on July 12, 2014. They have three children.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2004–05 | Toronto Marlboros AAA | GTHL U16 | 89 | 63 | 110 | 173 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Milton Icehawks | OPJHL | 13 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | 56 | 11 | 35 | 46 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | London Knights | OHL | 53 | 35 | 83 | 118 | 36 | 16 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 22 | ||
| 2007–08 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 79 | 13 | 36 | 49 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 76 | 16 | 25 | 41 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 68 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 68 | 15 | 27 | 42 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 75 | 18 | 29 | 47 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | EC KAC | EBEL | 21 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 48 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 67 | 10 | 27 | 37 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Arizona Coyotes | NHL | 81 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 53 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 2015–16 | Lehigh Valley Phantoms | AHL | 9 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 81 | 18 | 32 | 50 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 74 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Toronto Marlies | AHL | 43 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 25 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 36 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 42 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 81 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 48 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 15 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 28 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1,043 | 197 | 332 | 529 | 450 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Canada Ontario | U17 | 5th | 5 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2007 | Canada | WJC |  |
6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| 2008 | Canada | WC |  |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 19 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 16 | ||||
| Senior totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Awards and Honours
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto Marlboros | ||
| Buck Houle Award | 2004 | |
| USHL | ||
| All-Rookie Team | 2006 | |
| OHL | ||
| CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game | 2007 | |
| First All-Rookie Team | 2007 | |
| Third All-Star Team | 2007 | |
| CHL All-Rookie Team | 2007 | |
| NHL | ||
| NHL YoungStars Game | 2008 | |
| Rookie of the Month (February) | 2008 | |
| International | ||
| Super Series MVP | 2007 | |
Records
- Edmonton Oilers most points in a single game – 8 (shared with Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey)
- Edmonton Oilers most points in a single period – 5 (shared with Jari Kurri)
