Sam Gagner: The Only Player in NHL History to Join Two Teams during a 16-Game Winning Streak

Sam Gagner, a veteran at 34 years old and in his 17th NHL season, achieved a historic milestone by being the sole player in NHL history to be part of two different teams during a 16-game winning streak. This remarkable feat occurred after the Edmonton Oilers secured a 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday afternoon. Gagner had previously accomplished this during the 2016–17 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Let’s explore the details of his first encounter with a 16-game winning streak.

The streak commenced for Columbus with a convincing 5-1 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 29, 2016. Interestingly, the sixteenth victory coincided with Gagner’s current team, the Edmonton Oilers, on January 3, 2017, resulting in a 3-1 victory. However, the streak came to an end with a 5-0 defeat against the Washington Capitals on January 5. During this impressive run, Gagner contributed 14 points, culminating in a total of 50 points for the regular season, marking the only instance in his career where he reached the 50-point milestone.

Fast forward seven seasons later, Gagner’s participation in Edmonton’s 16-game winning streak was hindered by injuries, limiting his involvement to only five victories and resulting in a mere 3 points. His return to action occurred on December 21 against the New Jersey Devils, where he recorded two assists. Despite missing the subsequent eleven victories, Gagner returned on January 18 for the twelfth win against the Seattle Kraken. Notably, his game-winning goal during the provincial rivalry match at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 20 set a new NHL record for the most consecutive victories by a Canadian team. However, Gagner was sidelined during the game that equaled Columbus’ winning streak, as Corey Perry made his Edmonton debut.

Despite being traded back to Edmonton during the 2018/2019 season, Gagner did not experience playoff hockey with the Oilers and was subsequently traded out the following year before the team became a regular playoff contender. Prior to tallying 10 points in 22 games this season, he amassed 317 points in 554 career games as an Oiler. While the consecutive 16-win streaks are remarkable for any active player, the context surrounding Gagner’s career adds to its significance. Notably, his eight-point performance on February 2, 2012, against the Chicago Blackhawks ties a franchise record held by Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey, the current assistant coach.

Although Gagner’s absence from the Oilers’ 16th win may diminish its impact for some, it does not diminish the significance of his record. His presence during the team’s 14th win solidified his status as the player with the most wins in a row on two separate teams, even for the games he missed due to injury. Oilers fans are delighted to have Gagner back, especially after enduring challenging seasons and recovering from double hip surgery last year. Let’s anticipate more success for Gagner and the Oilers in the future, as the name “Gagner” signifies “to win.”