Kraken reel in Yamamoto with 1-year, $1.5M deal
Kailer Yamamoto is heading to his home state.
The Seattle Kraken signed the Spokane, Washington, native to a one-year, $1.5-million contract, the team announced.
The Detroit Red Wings bought out Yamamoto after acquiring him in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
A first-round pick by the Oilers in 2017, Yamamoto spent parts of six seasons with the club. He tallied a career-high 20 goals and 21 assists in 2021-22, but he regressed this past season with 25 points in 58 games. The 5-foot-8 winger's underlying numbers remained solid, though - particularly on the penalty kill.
Yamamoto figures to slide into Seattle's bottom-six forward group at right wing behind Jordan Eberle and Oliver Bjorkstrand - potentially in place of the departed Daniel Sprong.
At 24 years old, Yamamoto was one of the youngest unrestricted free agents available.