Sam Gagner excited for fresh start with Arizona Coyotes

By Cory Buck | Sep 1, 2014

Mar 18, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers center Sam Gagner (89) shoot the puck against the Nashville Predators during the second period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Sam Gagner hasn’t had the career many expected for him to this point. After being highly drafted by the Edmonton Oilers and installed in an NHL roster at a young age, many expected Gagner to be the offensive machine he was in junior hockey. The growing disappointment over his production in Edmonton peaked last season, resulting in Gagner’s trade. Instead of being downtrodden about it though, Gagner is excited for a new opportunity elsewhere.

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Gagner was traded twice on June 30th after years of trade speculation following his every stride. He landed in Arizona with the Coyotes, who haven’t made the playoffs in the last two seasons, but had previously been a playoff stalwart in the stretch preceding 2012, which is more than Gagner’s former team can claim.

“I’m really excited for it, I think they play a solid two-way game and compete really hard,” Gagner said on the NHL Network per the Coyotes’ website. “I enjoy playing that way, I think it’s really important to be competitive and work hard on and off the ice. I think it really fits well, and it’s just a matter of making the most of it.”

As for his time in Edmonton, which culminated in a 2013-14 that saw Gagner tally 37 points in 67 games, Gagner had little to say.

“Obviously the last couple years in Edmonton haven’t been great, so I’m excited for a fresh start,” Gagner said. “I’m at that phase of my career where I need to take a step forward, and I feel like Arizona is the place to do that.”

Gagner will likely open the season as a top two center for the offensively starved Arizona Coyotes. The team will need every goal it can get as it fights to return to the Western Conference playoffs.

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