Yamamoto was selected 22nd overall in the 2017 draft. After two seasons of limited play in 2017-18 and 2018-19, Yamamoto became a regular towards the end of 2019. His emergence as a top-six forward alongside Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins catapulted the Oilers into a playoff spot. first time since 2017, a few weeks before the Oilers drafted the 5’9″ forward.

His 2020-21 season saw the famous sophomore slump, scoring just eight goals and 21 points in 52 games, but the forward returned to form in 2021-22, posting a career-high 20 goals and 41 points in 81 matches. In his final season with the Oilers in 2022-23, Yamamoto scored 10 goals and 25 points in 58 games.

Before the 2023 draft, the Oilers traded him and Klim Kostin to the Detroit Red Wings, with the Original Six team acquiring Yamamoto shortly after. He signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Kraken, scoring eight goals and 16 points in 59 games, but they did not make him a qualifying offer, becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Yamamoto signed a professional tryout with the hockey club, turning it into a one-year, two-way contract. In three games so far, the 26-year-old has been held useless with a -1.

Friday afternoon, Daily Faceoffs Frank Seravalli reported that Alexis Lafrenière signed an extension with the New York Rangers. The deal is a seven-year contract worth $52.15 million, or $7.45 million per year.

Lafreniere was selected first overall in the 2020 draft by the Rangers. After accumulating just 47 goals and 91 points, it seemed like Lafrenière was drifting towards bankruptcy territory. However, the left winger scored a career-high 28 goals and 57 points in 82 games, helping the Rangers win the Presidents’ Trophy.

In the playoffs, he scored eight goals and 14 points in 16 games, as the Rangers ultimately fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.

So far in 2024-25, the 23-year-old who celebrated his birthday two weeks ago has four goals and seven points in seven games.

Several teams monitor the defense market

The Edmonton Oilers aren’t the only team in need of a second-pairing right-handed defenseman, as the Montreal Canadiens are also reportedly looking for one, according to Daily Faceoffs Frank Seravalli.

It’s been a rough start for the Canadiens, as they are 2-4-1 in their seven games, the worst in the Atlantic Division. To make matters worse, they’ve had to deal with a handful of back injuries, as Kaiden Guhle missed time due to injury while Mike Matheson suffered back spasms despite playing.

The Oilers and Canadiens aren’t the only teams looking to improve their defense, as the Utah Hockey Club is also looking to strengthen their back end. In recent weeks, two right-handed defensemen on their roster, John Marino and Sean Durzi, underwent surgery and will be out for several months.