As opening night rosters are finalized, many players feel the sting of disappointment.
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Just so for former Oilers forward Sam Gagner, who was released from his PTO with the Carolina Hurricanes as part of a big round of roster cuts.
Gagner faced an uphill battle to make the Hurricanes, one of the deepest teams in the league. His best bet would have been as the team’s thirteenth forward, where he would’ve competed with Tyson Jost for minutes. In camp, he was up against a battalion of Hurricanes prospects, including Jackson Blake, Bradly Nadeau, and Ryan Suzuki. Nadeau was among the players sent down by Carolina, while Suzuki was placed on waivers.
Also cut alongside Gagner were fellow PTO invite Rocco Grimaldi and former Oilers draft pick Skyler Brind’Amour, son of ‘Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour.
This could be the end of the line for Gagner, a veteran of 1043 NHL games. The 35-year-old was drafted 6th overall by the Oilers in 2007, and went on to play 570 games with the team over three stints. He’s best remembered in Edmonton for his eight-point game against the Chicago Blackhawks on February 2nd, 2012. Gagner split his time between Edmonton and Bakersfield last season, collecting 10 points in 28 games with the Oilers.
Gagner is a highly respected veteran, however, and could still catch on with his 8th NHL franchise. If not, just about any team — especially the Oilers — would be happy to add him to their coaching staff or front office.
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