Last season saw things come full circle for Sam Gagner, as he returned to the club who originally draft him. Brought in on a professional tryout and subsequently signed to an NHL deal for the league minimum, it seemed like the ideal swansong to his NHL career to play one final season with the Edmonton Oilers and then retire.
However, Gagner wasn't having any of it, despite a season which saw him set a host of career lows, including 28 games played, 10 points and 10:13 of average ice time per contest. As we wrote about at the beginning of June, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said:
"So I saw him today in the room and just asked him how he was doing? He came off the ice and had a big smile. He was working up a sweat and he told me he wants to play again. next year. He does not want to retire, he wants to play and he is determined to play."
A new opportunity for Sam Gagner
Gagner was true to his word, first having a tryout for the Carolina Hurricanes but ultimately being cut. Now though, as per Sportsnet, he has signed a professional tryout with the Belleveille Senators, who are the AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators.
It's hard for anyone associated with the Oilers not to root for the 35-year-old, despite him attempting to keep his career going with a rival Canadian organisation. He has spent the majority of his NHL career in Edmonton, producing 327 points in 570 games over three tenures with the Oilers.
Gagner might not have lived up to his draft status as a sixth overall pick in 2007, but you don't survive 17 seasons in the NHL without having something about you. That he still has the passion and hunger after more than 1,000 games at the highest level in North America, speaks volumes.
Whether or not the London, Ontario native manages to stick around in Belleville remains to be seen, but the combination of his work ethic, experience and leadership should give him a solid chance. At least he's not been idle of late, having captained Team Canada at the Spengler Cup last month
In any event, Gagner is off to a good start after making his debut for the Senators on Friday night in their AHL matchup with the Hershey Bears. He went on to produce an assist in a 4-3 overtime win, along with thee shots and two penalty minutes.