Sam Gagner is one of the top free-agent forwards still looking for a new home for the upcoming season. In 81 games in 2021-22 with the Detroit Red Wings, he had a solid 13 goals and 31 points. Although he wasn’t dominant, he can still provide decent offense in a bottom-six role and should be able to land an NHL contract for this season. Here are three teams that I consider to be potential landing spots.

Edmonton Oilers

A reunion between Gagner and the Edmonton Oilers is certainly a possibility. Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal recently reported that the Oilers have talked with the veteran forward, so perhaps something could come out of this (from ‘Could the 3rd time be a charm for the Edmonton Oilers and Sam Gagner: 9 Things,’ Edmonton Journal, 8/13/22). General manager (GM) Ken Holland has said that he is hoping to bring in another depth forward before the beginning of the season, and Gagner fits that description perfectly.

Looking at Edmonton’s roster, it’s fair to assume that Gagner would be competing for a spot in their bottom six. This is especially true given that the team has received criticism over the years for their lack of center depth after Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. So, bringing in another NHL-caliber option like Gagner would be a smart idea, even more so if he can continue to be a solid secondary scorer in 2022-23.

Financially, the Oilers are a bit jammed, and they also have to re-sign restricted free agent (RFA) Ryan McLeod, so they might be forced to move out some salary if they want to bring Gagner back on a one-way deal. Potential trade candidates to make this happen include Warren Foegele ($2.75 million cap hit) and Tyson Barrie ($4.5 million cap hit). At the end of the day, it could be worthwhile if it means adding Gagner to their forward group.