Sam Gagner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sam Gagner
Gagner with the Edmonton Oilers in 2012
Born	(1989-08-10) August 10, 1989 (age 35) London, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Right
Played for	Edmonton Oilers EC KAC Arizona Coyotes Philadelphia Flyers Columbus Blue Jackets Vancouver Canucks Detroit Red Wings Winnipeg Jets
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	6th overall, 2007 Edmonton Oilers
Playing career	2007–2025

Sam William Gagner, born on August 10, 1989, is a Canadian ice hockey player. He was a professional forward who played for 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for several teams, including the Edmonton Oilers, Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, and Winnipeg Jets.

The Edmonton Oilers picked Gagner as the sixth player overall in the 2007 NHL entry draft. He played for the Oilers for the first seven years of his NHL career. He also played one season for the Coyotes, Flyers, Blue Jackets, and Canucks. Gagner returned to Edmonton in 2019 and was later traded to the Red Wings in 2020. After three years with Detroit and one season with the Jets, Gagner came back to Edmonton for a third time in 2023.

Sam Gagner's Hockey Journey

Starting in Amateur Hockey

Sam Gagner began playing midget hockey 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 started playing junior hockey for the Milton Icehawks. He scored 15 points in 13 games. His dad was his coach during his minor hockey years.

In 2005–06, Gagner joined the Sioux City Musketeers in the United States Hockey League (USHL). He scored 46 points in 56 games, which was the second-highest on his team. Gagner also played with future NHL star John Tavares on the Marlboros and Icehawks. They even practiced together on a backyard rink built by Sam's dad, Dave.

Gagner first planned to play college hockey at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. However, he later decided to play closer to home in a Canadian major junior hockey league. The Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s London Knights chose him in the fourth round of their 2005 draft. This was a bit of a gamble because he had committed to college. In the 2006–07 season, Gagner played on the Knights' top line with future NHL stars Patrick Kane and Sergei Kostitsyn. He scored 118 points in 53 games, ranking fifth in OHL scoring. He also captained a team in the 2007 CHL Top Prospects Game, leading them to a 5–3 win.

Becoming a Professional Player

Joining the Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers drafted Gagner sixth overall in the 2007 NHL entry draft. On October 1, 2007, he signed a three-year contract with the Oilers. He played his first NHL game on October 4, helping the Oilers win 3–2 against the San Jose Sharks. He got his first NHL point by assisting on a goal. On October 20, Gagner scored his first NHL goal against Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames.

In the 2007–08, Gagner was the youngest player in the NHL. He scored 49 points in 79 games. He played on a line called the "Kid Line" with fellow rookies Andrew Cogliano and Robert Nilsson. During the season, Gagner played in the 2008 NHL YoungStars Game during All-Star weekend. He was also named the NHL Rookie of the Month for February. He set an Oilers record for the longest assist streak by a rookie, with nine assists in eight straight games.

In the 2008–09, Gagner scored his first NHL hat-trick and added an assist, getting four points in an 8–1 win against the Colorado Avalanche. He finished that season with 16 goals and 41 points. In the next two seasons, he continued to score around 41 or 42 points.

On March 9, 2011, Gagner injured his left hand during a game against the Washington Capitals. A teammate's skate blade accidentally cut him. He needed surgery and missed the rest of the 2010–11 season. He returned to play on October 22, 2011. On February 2, 2012, Gagner had an amazing game against the Chicago Blackhawks. He scored four goals and four assists, totaling eight points. This tied the Oilers' team record, previously held by legends like Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey. He was also the first NHL player since Mario Lemieux in 1989 to score eight or more points in a single game. Two days later, Gagner scored two goals and an assist in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings. This set a new Oilers record with 11 consecutive points, breaking Gretzky's record of ten. Gagner finished the season with 47 points in 75 games.

During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Gagner played for Klagenfurter AC in Austria. After the 2012–13 season, the Oilers signed Gagner to a three-year contract.

Moving to Arizona

On June 29, 2014, Gagner was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, he was only a Lightning player for about an hour! He was then traded again to the Arizona Coyotes. This trade also involved B. J. Crombeen going to Arizona.

During the Coyotes' training camp for the 2014–15 season, coach Dave Tippett tried Gagner at right wing instead of his usual center position. Gagner found good chemistry playing with center Martin Hanzal. They combined for 16 points in just five games in December and January 2015.

Playing for Philadelphia and Columbus

On June 27, 2015, Gagner was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Coyotes' general manager explained that they believed Gagner "couldn't play center at the NHL level."

On August 1, 2016, Gagner signed a one-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had a great season with the Blue Jackets, scoring a career-high 50 points. After this successful year, Gagner signed a three-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

Time with Vancouver and Return to Edmonton

Before the 2018–19 season, the Canucks placed Gagner on waivers. He then joined the Toronto Marlies, a team linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs, to be closer to his family. Gagner scored 15 points in 15 games with the Marlies. He was called back to the Canucks on November 18, 2018, when they had many injured players. He played 7 games for Vancouver before returning to the Marlies.

Gagner was one of the top scorers for the Marlies with 37 points in 43 games. On February 16, 2019, the Canucks traded him back to his original team, the Edmonton Oilers. In the 2019–20 season, Gagner scored five goals and seven assists in 36 games for the Oilers.

Joining the Detroit Red Wings

On February 24, 2020, Gagner was traded from the Oilers to the Detroit Red Wings. He played 6 games for the Red Wings, scoring one goal, before the season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On September 26, 2020, the Red Wings signed Gagner to a new one-year contract. They signed him again for another year on July 28, 2021.

Playing for the Winnipeg Jets

After leaving the Red Wings, Gagner signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets on September 2, 2022. This was his 16th season in the NHL. In the 2022–23 season, Gagner played his 1,000th NHL career game on December 29, 2022, against the Vancouver Canucks. He scored 8 goals and 6 assists for 14 points in 48 games. However, he had to miss the rest of the season due to hip surgery on March 16, 2023.

Third Time with Edmonton

After his season with the Jets, Gagner wanted to keep playing. He accepted an invitation to return to the Oilers on a professional tryout contract for the 2023–24 NHL season. Gagner was still recovering from his hip surgery and did not play in any pre-season games. On October 23, 2023, he signed a one-year contract with the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers' minor league team. 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 since 2020, Gagner scored two goals, but the Oilers lost to the Dallas Stars.

Time with Belleville and Retirement

As of January 24, 2025, Gagner signed a professional tryout (PTO) contract with the Belleville Senators. This team is part of the AHL and is linked to the Ottawa Senators.

A few months later, on May 15, 2025, Sam Gagner joined the Ottawa Senators' front office. He became the director of player development, which meant he officially ended his playing career.

International Play

Gagner with Canada at the 2007 Super Series
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championship
Silver	2008 Canada
World Junior Championship
Gold	2007 Sweden
Spengler Cup
Gold	2012 Davos

Gagner played for Canada at the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Sweden. He was the youngest player on the team and played in all six games. He helped Canada win their third of five straight gold medals.

Later that year, Gagner played in the 2007 Super Series. This was an eight-game series between Canada's and Russia's junior teams. It celebrated the 1972 Summit Series. Gagner scored 15 points and was named the series' MVP. Canada beat Russia 7–0–1 in the series.

After his rookie season with the Oilers in 2007–08, Gagner played for Canada in the 2008 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. He played in one game as a reserve. Canada lost to Russia in the gold medal game.

In December 2024, Gagner was chosen to play for Canada's team in the 2024 Spengler Cup in Switzerland. He played in both of Canada's group games. He got an assist in the first game against HC Davos. He also played in their semi-final loss to Straubing Tigers.

Sam Gagner's Life Off the Ice

In his first year with the Oilers, Gagner lived with teammates Andrew Cogliano and Tom Gilbert. They stayed in a house provided by Oilers captain Ethan Moreau. In the summer of 2009, Gagner and Cogliano each got their own apartments in Edmonton. During the off-season, Gagner goes back to his hometown of London, Ontario.

Sam Gagner's dad, Dave Gagner, was also an NHL player. Dave played for 15 seasons with several teams. Because of his dad's career, Sam Gagner grew up in many different cities. These included Minneapolis, Dallas, Toronto, Calgary, Miami, Vancouver, and Oakville. Sam's sister, Jessica Gagner, played hockey for the Dartmouth Big Green women's ice hockey program.

Gagner married his longtime girlfriend, Dr. Rachel Linke, on July 12, 2014. They got married in Muskoka, Ontario. They have three children.

Career Statistics

International Play Statistics

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 Special Honours

Records Sam Gagner Holds

• 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)