Feb 19, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Sam Gagner (89) skates against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period at Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

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Sam Gagner Signs PTO with AHL Belleville Senators

Veteran forward Sam Gagner joins Belleville Senators on a professional tryout, aiming to showcase his skills for an NHL return.

Veteran center Sam Gagner is taking another shot at extending his NHL career, this time within the Senators organization. According to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, the 35-year-old has signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the AHL Belleville Senators.

Gagner, a free agent since the Edmonton Oilers opted not to renew his two-way deal for the 2023-24 season, has spent much of the campaign on the sidelines. After an unsuccessful PTO with the Carolina Hurricanes during training camp, Gagner captained Team Canada to a semifinal finish at the 2024 Spengler Cup in Switzerland.

Sam Gagner joins AHL Senators on tryout https://t.co/MDFnRhVpHO
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) January 24, 2025

Now, Gagner is set to hit the ice for Belleville tonight, as first reported by Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic. This marks the first time in his career he’s played in back-to-back AHL seasons, following a stint with Bakersfield last year where he tallied nine points in 15 games.

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Despite recent challenges, including hip surgery and a concussion, Gagner has remained a capable fourth-line contributor when healthy. Over the last two NHL seasons with Winnipeg and Edmonton, he recorded 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists) in 76 games.

The Senators’ AHL affiliate provides Gagner with an opportunity to earn a two-way deal and potentially re-enter the NHL fold before the trade deadline. His veteran experience could prove valuable to Ottawa as they push to end their eight-year playoff drought, offering a more seasoned option than current call-ups like Matthew Highmore, Jan Jeník, or Cole Reinhardt.

A former sixth-overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, Gagner boasts an impressive career résumé, including 197 goals and 332 assists for 529 points across 1,043 NHL games. If he secures a deal with Ottawa, it would mark his fourth Canadian NHL team, adding another chapter to a career that’s spanned stints with Edmonton, Arizona, Philadelphia, Columbus, Vancouver, Detroit, and Winnipeg.

Image Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

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Sam Gagner

Anamika Shrivastava

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