For a guy who wasn't entirely certain whether his career would continue in the NHL before the 2023024 season began, Sam Gagner has fit like a glove with the Edmonton Oilers. Now, he exclusively holds a very nice spot in the NHL record books, with a bit of an ironic twist.
With the Oilers continuing their hot streak last night with a big 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, Gagner became the first NHL player ever to be involved in two seperate 14 games winning streaks. Oddly enough, the 14th win with Edmonton came against the team Gagner had a 14 game winning streak with previously, the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Gagner was initially invited to Edmonton's training camp back in September on a professional tryout. However, he underwent surgery first and did not play in the preseason. When he was healthy, Gagner first went to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League before officially joining Edmonton. After a stretch of disappointing seasons, and many injuries, Gagner has looked like the perfect fit in Edmonton. The 34-year-old former 6th overall pick has 5 goals and 10 points in 21 games so far, and has looked great as a depth player for the team.
It's a pretty incredible feat, and something Gagner and the Edmonton Oilers should be very proud of. Edmonton has a chance to extend the streak to 15 games tomorrow night against the Chicago Blackhawks.
