Utah HC has signed former Edmonton Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto

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Finnegan Frost
October 6, 2024 (3:52 PM)

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Breaking news in the NHL as Utah HC have officially signed former Edmonton Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto to a contract.

As per TSN, The Utah Hockey Club have signed restricted free agent forward Kailer Yamamoto to a one-year, two-way deal.

Yamamoto, 25, joined Utah on a professional tryout agreement on Sept. 11 and recorded three goals in five preseason games. He played last season with the Seattle Kraken, recording eight goals and 16 points in 59 games.

The 5-foot-8 winger is coming off a one-year, $1.5 million deal and became an unrestricted free agent after the Kraken failed to give him a qualifying offer. Drafted 22nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2017, Yamamoto has 58 goals and 124 points in 303 career games split between the Oilers and Kraken. The Spokane, Wash., native represented the United States at the 2018 World Juniors, recording two goals and four points to take home a bronze medal.

Selected with the 22nd overall pick in the 2017 draft by Edmonton, Yamamoto has 58 goals and 134 points in 303 career games.

Yamamoto has shown glimpses of offensive brilliance throughout the course of his NHL career. Kailer "YAMO" Yamamoto is still considered severely undersized. Despite his scoring abilities, he's notorious for being tossed around the ice and losing crucial battles along the boards due to his overall size and strength.

He was a fan favourite in Oil Country, and perhaps a stint with the newest NHL expansion team will help revamp his game.

It's important to remember that his two-way contract doesn't guarantee NHL playing time, but it's nice to see his PTO work out, and hopefully he finds a spot on Utah's starting roster.