On Thursday, Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness announced after the team’s morning skate that veteran forward Sam Gagner would not play the remainder of the 2022-23 season following hip surgery.
“Sam Gagner had some hip issues over the last little while,” Bowness said. “He’s elected to have some surgery, so he’s out. The hips have been bothering him, so he had an operation on one the other day, and I think he’s going to have another one in two weeks once that one settles down.”
The 33-year-old had eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 48 games this season. Gagner last played for the Jets on February 28, 2023, in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
In 1,015 NHL games over 16 seasons, Gagner has 519 points (192 goals, 327 assists) with the Edmonton Oilers (twice), Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings,, and Winnipeg Jets.
Gagner, a first-round pick (6th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Gagner signed a one-year contract worth $750,000 with the Winnipeg Jets on September 22, 2022.
Should the 2022-23 season be the only season Gagner plays for the Winnipeg Jets? His most memorable moment as a Jet will be for playing his 1000th career NHL game on December 29, 2022, against the Vancouver Canucks.
The Jets return home Thursday night to play the Boston Bruins after a three-game road trip. With a 38-27-3 record, Winnipeg is four points ahead of the Nashville Predators for the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference. After Thursday’s game, the Jets will head to Nashville to play the Predators on Saturday.
