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Former Detroit Red Wings captain announces his retirement from the NHL after 1,000 games
Former Detroit Red Wings captain, Sam Gagner, has announced his retirement after 1,043 games played (Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, and more) in the NHL.
Sam Gagner was drafted 6th overall in the 1st-round of the 2007 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers. He'd see a long career that lasted until the 2023-2024 season, as it ended where it started in Edmonton.
He'd play 28 games in 2023-2024 with the team that drafted him, and was used sparingly as a depth player by the Oilers, scoring only 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) proving he still had some fight left in him till the end.
He wouldn't be brought back and would instead find a home in the minors with the Belleville Senators, scoring 10 points (10 assists) in 19 games. He had no NHL contract on file with PuckPedia this season.
"Sam had an incredible career as a player and we look forward to launching his next chapter," Senators general manager Steve Staios said. "A true character individual, Sam has contributed to the success of his organizations, both on and off the ice.
The former 1st-round pick played a total of 1,043 NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, and Winnipeg Jets.
He scored a total of 529 points (197 goals, 332 assists) and remains the only player in the 21st Century to score 8 points in one game, scoring a total of 4 goals and 4 assists against the Chicago Blackhawks, as an Edmonton Oiler.
Gagner's final NHL game was played on April 18th, 2024, as an Oiler.
Now, he will begin his new journey with the Ottawa Senators as the director of player development today.
Congrats on your retirement and your upcoming journey in the Senators front office!
| POLL | ||
MAI 16 | 100 ANSWERS Former Detroit Red Wings captain announces his retirement from the NHL after 1,000 games Do you think forward Sam Gagner, a former Detroit Red Wing, should still be playing in the NHL? | ||
| Yes | 20 | 20 % |
| No | 80 | 80 % |
| List of polls | ||