The Utah Hockey Club announced the signing of forward Kailer Yamamoto to a one-year, two-way contract, Daily Faceoff reported. The deal carries a $775K AAV for this season.
The deal does not come as a surprise after Yamamoto’s strong training camp. He joined the Hockey Club after the Seattle Kraken opted not to sign him last season. The Kraken failed to issue him a qualifying offer this past summer, making him an unrestricted free agent.
However, Yamamoto, a former first-round pick from 2017 by the Edmonton Oilers, failed to generate much interest. So, he joined Utah on a Professional Tryout (PTO), giving him another shot at making the NHL.
Yamamoto’s best season came in 2021-22 when he scored 20 goals and notched 41 points for the Edmonton Oilers. However, his production has declined since. Last season, he tallied 16 points in 59 games for the Kraken.
The Hockey Club hopes Yamamoto can regain his form, potentially notching somewhere between 20 to 30 points this season in a predominantly bottom-six role. Depending on his performance, he could move up into the middle-six this season.
Why the Kailer Yamamoto deal makes sense for the Utah Hockey Club
Utah enters this season with high expectations. The Hockey Club could make the playoffs despite playing in a stacked Central Division. However, a wildcard spot is not out of the question.
With the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Winnipeg Jets expected to finish in the top three in the Central, the fight for the fourth spot could lead Utah to clash with the Nashville Predators. Moreover, the relatively weaker Pacific Division provides the Hockey Club with a chance to nab one of the wild cards.
As such, Utah would most likely compete against the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings for the wild card. So, adding Yamamoto as a low-cost, low-risk move makes sense. The Hockey Club needs veteran talent to support up-and-coming stars like Dylan Guenther and team captain Clayton Keller.
Additionally, spending $775K on a one-year deal for Yamamoto is hardly a burden on the team’s finances. But if Yamamoto can regain some of the semblance he once had in Edmonton, the contract could be one of the year’s biggest steals.
Ultimately, Yamamoto will be playing with a chip on his shoulder. Plenty of other teams passed on him this season. So, he’ll be motivated to prove he still belongs in the NHL. If that’s the case, the Hockey Club stands to get a wonderful player at a bargain-basement price.