The Edmonton Oilers were already set to finish the season without one promising young player after rookie Taylor Hall fought his way to an injury, but now they must play their final 14 games without Sam Gagner.
Gagner will miss the rest of the regular season after undergoing surgery on his hand on Thursday, according to TSN. Gagner continued to play in Wednesday’s game versus the Washington Capitals after a teammate’s skate cut that hand, which could be cited if someone compiled an epic anthology “Why hockey players are tough.”
The 21-year-old forward seemed prime to match or exceed his career high of 49 points, with 42 in 68 games played. His numbers haven’t changed much during his four-year NHL career, although his 17:45 time on ice average indicates that his profile might be growing.