Speculation: F - Kailer Yamamoto, UFA

[Jersey Fan 12]

Bit of a stretch, but with the Rangers adding size can't help thinking Yamamoto could fill a Mats Zuccarello role playing for New York. Move would also reunite him with USA U20 teammates Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren.

He is still just 25 years old and two years removed from a 20-goal season with the Oilers.

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[ReggiesLemons]

He is a UFA so his value is what he would sign for. I would imagine somewhere between 750k and 1 million. It's August and he is still without a deal so he isn't getting much. He played for 1.5 last year and was pretty meh for Seattle.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

Yamamoto was loved in the room in Edmonton. He got what seemed like a good second opportunity with Seattle being as he's from Spokane, but failed to do anything with it. I do hope the guy finds another shot at the NHL level, although he might not be a full time NHL guy going forward and could be a 2 way contract guy.

 

[Mrfenn92]

I’ll take Kailer on a 2 way for the hawks

 

[Djp]

I’ll take Kailer on a 2 way for the hawks

I agree he likely gets a 2 way contract.

 

[Chet Manley]

Any contract under $1.15m doesn't count on the cap if the player is sent to the AHL. So a 2 way contract only really helps if the NHL salary is over $1.15m.

 

[Rafafouille]

Any contract under $1.15m doesn't count on the cap if the player is sent to the AHL. So a 2 way contract only really helps if the NHL salary is over $1.15m.

No but a 2 way allows you to give him an AHL salary. If teams don't feel he's worth NHL minimum, they might feel a 300k AHL, NHL minimum 2 way is more reasonable.

 

[McHelpus]

Feel like he goes back to Seattle? Was he that bad for them? He was fine on Edmonton.

 

[The Nuge]

It’s crazy how much he fell off. At 20 he was right around PPG on what was arguably the best line in hockey while they were together (Drai, Nuge, Yamo), and looking like he’d go on to be a perennial 60-70 point guy. Then things didn’t click the next year, but he did bounce back for a 20-21-41 season, which still looked fine for him to be a feisty middle 6 winger who was beloved in the room… then he had 25 points… then 16. Suddenly at 25 he looks like a guy who goes to be a low AAV, high character, guy on a rebuilding team

 

[ManofSteel55]

If I am Edmonton, I offer him a chance to find what he is missing by giving him a contract and sending him to the AHL. Tell him he has a shot to earn his way back to the show, but he has to find what he lost in the minors first.

 

[VanillaCoke]

Not an NHL player

 

[iago]

Time for him to figure out what his next career will be. He's not good enough to play in anyone's top 6, and too small to be a good option for the bottom 6. Either that, or become a lifetime AHL player.

 

[Frank Drebin]

He reminded me of my son playing first year u11 with a too long of a jersey

 

[kihei]

No interest from the Kraken. He just did not do nearly enough to warrant an encore.

 

[archangel2]

Yamamoto was loved in the room in Edmonton. He got what seemed like a good second opportunity with Seattle being as he's from Spokane, but failed to do anything with it. I do hope the guy finds another shot at the NHL level, although he might not be a full time NHL guy going forward and could be a 2 way contract guy.

I can see him getting a 2 way contract

 

[ManofSteel55]

I can see him getting a 2 way contract

Yep. With the expectation that he is starting in Bakersfield, and will have to earn his way up to the pros.

 

[12ozPapa]

The Seattle/Spokane connection makes no sense to me, am I alone?

Spokane and Seattle are significantly different and also across the state from one another.

 

[SoupGuru]

As a Spokanite, I've been rooting for him but haven't been watching his career too closely. I was super stoked when I saw he was traded to my beloved Red Wings and I thought we could use his tenacity and hands but the ink never dried on that trade before the Wings cut him loose.

 

[AslanRH]

Any contract under $1.15m doesn't count on the cap if the player is sent to the AHL. So a 2 way contract only really helps if the NHL salary is over $1.15m.

2 way contract doesn't help with cap. Just allows for a lower real dollar salary in the minors

 

[Matty Sundin]

Try out contract

 

[lawrence]

probably find his way to Europe. KHL or the Swiss leaugue. Players like him really need to make up offensively if they don't have the size or height to make it in the NHL. the bare minimum is like Connor Garland who also makes up with physical play for his lack of size, and decent offensive game.

 

[bobbyb2009]

The Seattle/Spokane connection makes no sense to me, am I alone?

Spokane and Seattle are significantly different and also across the state from one another.

I think Edmonton and Calgary are much closer to Spokane than Seattle? Edit- Even Vancouver is closer than Edmonton. At least they are all in the same ballpark. "Hometown" could be any of those teams for him.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

It’s crazy how much he fell off. At 20 he was right around PPG on what was arguably the best line in hockey while they were together (Drai, Nuge, Yamo), and looking like he’d go on to be a perennial 60-70 point guy. Then things didn’t click the next year, but he did bounce back for a 20-21-41 season, which still looked fine for him to be a feisty middle 6 winger who was beloved in the room… then he had 25 points… then 16. Suddenly at 25 he looks like a guy who goes to be a low AAV, high character, guy on a rebuilding team

Yeah what a strange trajectory. I had to double check that it was the same guy.

 

[Petes2424]

He’ll get a PTO and likely end up signing either an AHL deal this year, or head over to Switzerland. He’d have to have a really good camp to get an NHL contract. The problem is, every team has 2-3 of him already.. Mostly playing in the AHL.

 

[TheNumber4]

Another case of the NHL arbitrators being complete f***in morons.