Utah Hockey Club signs F Kailer Yamamoto

Field Level Media|published: Sun 6th October, 20:26 2024

NHL: Seattle Kraken at Pittsburgh Penguins

Jan 15, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Seattle Kraken right wing Kailer Yamamoto (56) reacts on the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Utah Hockey Club signed forward Kailer Yamamoto on Sunday to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Yamamoto, 26, scored three goals in six preseason games while in training camp on a professional tryout. He had 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 59 games in his lone season with the Seattle Kraken in 2023-24.

"He can play every role," head coach Andre Tourigny told the Salt Lake Tribune. "We put him in every situation during camp. ... He can feel really good about himself.

"What I liked the most about him was the amount of battles he won."

Edmonton selected Yamamoto 22nd overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. He played in 244 regular-season games for the Oilers from 2017-23, collecting 50 goals, 68 assists and a plus-29 rating. He also had three goals and nine assists in 34 playoff games with Edmonton.

Utah, formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes, opens the 2024-25 season at home on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

--Field Level Media