Sam Gagner ends illustrious NHL career, begins new journey as Ottawa Senators director of player development

After almost 20 years of traversing the ice, Sam Gagner moved from playing to mentoring by taking on a major component in Ottawa. The veteran forward who held record performances now channels his far-reaching experience towards grooming future stars as their new director of development. This transition from the rink to the office marks a somewhat full circle for a player whose commitment and leadership stood tall beside his points tallies.Sam Gagner's NHL career showed his grit, flexibility, and knack for making an impact on several teams. The Edmonton Oilers picked him sixth overall in 2007, kicking off a 17-season run that saw him play for seven different clubs. He racked up 197 goals and 332 assists over 1,043 games, ending with an impressive 529 points. This tally proves his staying power and hockey smarts.His influence went beyond the NHL. In his last pro season, Gagner played for the Ottawa Senators' AHL team in Belleville. He dished out 10 assists in 19 games. Even as he got older, you could still see his fighting spirit and love for hockey.Sam Gagner's career hit a high point in February 2013. He put up eight points in one game scoring four goals and helping with four more. This made him the only player in the 2000s to reach this mark. Before him Mario Lemieux had done the same back in 1988. Their names now have a link in NHL history because of this rare feat.Gagner hit another big mark in December 2022. He played his 1,000th NHL game as a Winnipeg Jet. The next year, he came back to where he started, signing a one-year deal with the Oilers. In this time, he scored 5 goals and helped with 5 more over 27 games. After that, the team sent him to play for the AHL's Bakersfield Condors. At any level, Gagner kept showing others how to play.Also Read: Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Sidney Crosby and others share their reaction on Marc-André Fleury's retirementBut seeing the career days behind him, Gagner faces another challenge of developing budding talent for the Ottawa Senators in the capacity of Director of Player Development. Now his NHL career has finished, his experience and leadership will serve the new generations. It is an appropriate continuation for a player who paid his dues both on and off the ice.