Kailer Yamamoto on PTO for Utah Hockey Club
SALT LAKE CITY – Forward Kailer Yamamoto was once touted as one of the best American-born hockey players to enter the 2017 draft. It was unsurprising after putting up 99 points with the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League that season.
The Edmonton Oilers used their first-round pick, 22nd overall, to take Yamamoto.
After being drafted, he made a strong impression with the Oilers and was on the opening night roster. Yamamoto is constantly compared to Johny Gaudeau, not just for his size (5′ 8″, 155 lbs.) but for his speed, quick hands, and hockey sense.
Yamamoto played nine games for the Oilers that season before being sent back to Spokane to further develop, which is standard.
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After 6 seasons with or at least in the Oilers system, Yamamoto was traded to Detroit with the intention of being bought out. He then signed with Seattle for the 2023-24 season, where he posted 16 points in 59 games. Seattle opted not to re-sign Yamamoto.
So where does a super-talented forward with 303 NHL games, 134 NHL points, and a bit of a reputation for being injured go for a fresh start? How about an entire team getting a fresh start?
Yamamoto joins Utah under what is known as a “pro tryout” or a PTO. And that’s exactly what it is—a tryout with no guaranteed spot. Several big-name players are under PTOs this season, most notably Max Pacioretty with Toronto.
Utah Puck Report caught up with Kailer to talk about his journey to Salt Lake City.
UPR: I imagine you were watching the news and seeing all this drama play out between Arizona and Utah. Did you ever think it would affect your life?
KY: Honestly, no. I was pretty happy in Seattle, it was a really fun team. Obviously, it didn’t work out in the off-season, but honestly I didn’t really know that I was coming to Utah until September 10th. So I never really thought about it. I knew they were a new team, and that that’s really special.
UPR: Coming to camp under a PTO, is it a different pressure than the camps you’ve attended previously?
KY: Yeah definitely a little bit I mean I’m not on a roster yet so, there’s more nerves and pressure, I’ve got to get out there and play my game and take it day by day.
UPR: The league knows who you are and what you can do. Did you try to add anything new to your game this offseason?
KY: No, I just worked on getting better at my entire game. Obvioulsy, I had to prove myself to come to the NHL, I feel like I just have to earn my spot here. I was talking one of my coaches down in Spokane, he said the same thing, you don’t have to prove yourself, you just have to earn a spot.
There is no doubt Yamamoto fits in with Utah’s smaller, faster forwards. He looked good in the team’s pre-season game against St. Louis.
But there are a ton of high draft picks in Utah’s system that are all hoping to crack the lineup and grab one of the few spots left. It’s hard not to root for Yamamoto to make the roster, though. He’s a great guy with fantastic talent and speed.
It’s a year of new and renewed for this team and its roster, it just seems like a story that writes itself.
Utah Puck Report is a podcast all about Utah hockey, from interviews with NHL stars to which Grizzlies players are about to take the next step, Utah Puck Report has everything for a Utah hockey fan. Find it wherever you find podcasts or on KSLSports.com. The show is hosted by Jay Stevens.
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