Edmonton Oilers News Update 2013-14: Sam Gagner Signs 3-Year Deal

The Edmonton Oilers avoided arbitration and signed one of their franchise players, Sam Gagner, to a three-year contract.

According to NHL.com, the contract is worth $14.4 million for an average annual value of $4.8 million. There is also a no-movement clause in the second season.

"It's nice to get something done," Gagner said in an interview with Sportsnet. "I wanted to be an Oiler and to get something done. I'm pretty happy we were able to avoid going in there [arbitration hearing room] and getting a deal done. It's a good feeling."

"They believed in me," he added. "I was part of their core going forward. That gives me confidence, but the end of the day it's about me going out and showing what I'm capable of. I feel I have lot left to prove. Last year was a good year for me, but there's a different level I want to get to."

"I know Sam doesn't want to go anywhere -- he's an Oiler," said Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish, according to Sportsnet. "He was fearful that if he did sign a long-term deal without any control he wouldn't be able to stay in Edmonton and see this whole thing through to a high level of competitiveness. I understood that argument."

Gagner, drafted sixth overall by the team in 2007, has scored 258 points in 414 games for Edmonton. He finished the 2012-13 season with 38 points in 48 games; he was on pace for 64 points. His best points total in a full season was in 2007-08, his first year, when he scored 49 points in 79 games.