Sam Gagner is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who has had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on August 10, 1989, in London, Ontario, and began playing hockey at a young age.
Gagner was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and he made his NHL debut in the 2007-2008 season. He quickly established himself as a skilled forward, scoring 49 points in his rookie season and earning a nomination for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.
Over the next few seasons, Gagner continued to improve his game and became a key player for the Oilers. He had his best season in 2011-2012, when he scored 47 points in 75 games. However, the Oilers struggled as a team during this time, and Gagner was eventually traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014.
Gagner's time with the Lightning was short-lived, as he was traded again to the Arizona Coyotes just a few months later. He played two seasons with the Coyotes, but his production declined during this time. In 2016, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, where he had a solid season with 50 points in 81 games.
After one season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Gagner signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 2017. He had a strong start to his time with the Canucks, scoring eight points in his first four games. However, his production declined over the next few seasons, and he was eventually traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 2019.
Gagner played a limited role with the Oilers during the 2019-2020 season, but he had a resurgence in the 2020-2021 season. He scored 12 goals and 12 assists in just 42 games, and he was a key player for the Oilers during their playoff run.
Overall, Gagner has had a successful NHL career, scoring over 500 points in over 900 games. He has played for seven different teams during his career, but he is perhaps best known for his time with the Edmonton Oilers. Despite some ups and downs throughout his career, Gagner has remained a skilled and reliable player, and he continues to be a valuable asset to any team he plays for.
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