Edmonton Oilers center Sam Gagner is giving up three years of unrestricted free agency in his new deal. (Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)
Sam Gagner agreed to a three-year, $14.4 million contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers to avoid going to a salary arbitration hearing.
"So happy to remain an Edmonton Oiler for at least three more years," Gagner said via Twitter. "Thanks to everyone for the support. Time to get to work."
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Of the 21 NHL players who filed for salary arbitration this summer, Gagner is the 12th to settle without having a hearing. Generally, neither teams nor players like to go to arbitration because testimony can be unsettling for players and results are unpredictable.
Winnipeg Jets forward Bryan Little has the next scheduled arbitration on Wednesday.
MORE: Free agent tracker
Gagner had requested $5.5 million in arbitration, and even convincing him to take an average of $4.8 million was important to the Oilers, who are pushed up against the cap ceiling. He made $3.2 million last season.
If he had gone to arbitration, a one-year award would have left him an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He gives up two years of unrestricted free agency in the deal.
Gagner ranked second on the Oilers last season with 38 points in 48 games, a 65-point, full-season pace. He had scored between 40 and 50 points in his first five seasons.
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