The Carolina Hurricanes have announced the signing of veteran forwards Sam Gagner, Rocco Grimaldi, and Skyler Brind’Amour to player tryout agreements (PTOs) ahead of the upcoming season.
Sam Gagner spent the 2023-24 season with the Edmonton Oilers, where he tallied five goals and five assists in 28 regular-season games. His most recent goal came on January 20 in a matchup against the Calgary Flames. Originally drafted sixth overall by the Oilers in the 2007 NHL Draft after a standout season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Gagner quickly made his mark in the NHL. As an 18-year-old rookie, he recorded 13 goals and 36 assists for 49 points.
Between 2014 and 2018, Gagner played for four different teams: the Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Vancouver Canucks. His best season during this stretch came with the Blue Jackets in 2016-17 when he notched a career-high 18 goals and 50 points. Over the course of 1,043 NHL regular-season games, Gagner has accumulated 197 goals and 332 assists for 529 points. He also has four assists in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Rocco Grimaldi spent the 2023-24 season with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, where he had an impressive campaign, finishing second in the league with 36 goals and 37 assists for 73 points in 72 games. The 31-year-old last appeared in the NHL during the 2021-22 season with the Nashville Predators, contributing three assists in seven games. The 5-foot-6 forward has 203 NHL games under his belt, amassing 30 goals and 37 assists for 67 points during stints with the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, and Nashville Predators.
Skyler Brind’Amour, son of Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour, spent the 2023-24 season with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. In 54 games, he recorded eight points. Skyler was selected 177th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.
These PTO signings offer Gagner, Grimaldi, and Brind’Amour the opportunity to prove themselves and potentially secure spots on the Hurricanes’ roster for the upcoming season.
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