A year ago, Kailer Yamamoto was at the lowest point of his career. After the Edmonton Oilers were traded to the Detroit Red Wings, it was the only team he knew by then that he was acquired and signed by his hometown team Seattle Kraken. With Kraken, he struggled, scored only 16 points, and in his worst season of his career, he didn’t get a contract for a team entering the 2024 offseason.
A year later, Yamamoto may enter free agent again without a contract. But, he entered this summer, and was really given a chance to find another contract in the NHL after he really gave himself a chance to revive his career in the Utah Hockey Club organization.
A new chapter in Utah and Tucson
Yamamoto took it until September 11 to get the offer. It was a professional trial agreement with Utah, which allowed him to join the team for training camps and preseasons. Within three weeks, Yamamoto worked as hard as possible to try to win the contract for the upcoming 2024-25 season. He played six of seven Utah preseason games, scoring three goals along the way.
Okeyyyyy, Yamamoto Keller pic.twitter.com/ae17lr97ge
– Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) October 3, 2024
His outstanding drama ended up peaking with Utah’s one-two-year contract and signed before the season began. However, he only participated in three games and sat in the press conference most of the night. With Utah’s roster getting more crowded, management has the option to choose with Nick Bjugstad’s return.
Yamamoto was placed on a waiver after Utah lost 5-1 to Colorado Avalanche on October 24 with the intention of sending him to the American Hockey League (AHL) to play for Tucson passers-by. 24 hours passed, and no one claimed Yamamoto, marking the second time in months that it was rejected by every team in the league.
So Yamamoto traveled to Tucson to participate in a group he didn’t know outside the preseason. He played with the Bakersfield vultures with Cameron Hebig a few years ago, and Josh Doan was sent down in Utah. However, this is different from the group he played with in Salt Lake City.
Yamamoto’s downgrade may be poor. This is his first time in the AHL since the 2019-20 season. It’s not what he wants or really signed. But he quickly condensed with the group and has become a key leader in the Roadrunners locker room.
“It’s obviously different,” Yamamoto said. “These guys are great here. It’s easy to grow up with them day after day. It’s like a family. I’ll work on any day of these guys. It’s fun.”
Related: Utah HC Players Choose Their Favorite Moments for the 2024-25 Season
Yamamoto played 51 games for the Roadrunners and scored 51 points. He has played a big role in helping the team keep the playoffs competing and has also helped the players around him thrive. Hebig managed to play against his former Condor Teammates (AHL) in the AHL’s professional season. He said Yamamoto’s NHL experience has helped many players in the Roadrunners locker room.
“He is a great player,” Herbig said. “He is a waterskiing, changeable, smart player who has great performance. Obviously, he has a lot of experience in the NHL, so I think that this experience can help the players and provide a lot of good advice and knowledge.”
Yamamoto makes him a personal task to improve his overall game during the AHL. He strives to make his own drama with confidence. Yamamoto admitted he was hesitant to play early this season. Roadrunners’ coaching staff helped him regain his confidence, which helped him find the game again.
“Here, they gave me a lot of confidence to develop my game,” Yamamoto said. “I think that’s one of the biggest things. The coaching staff is great. The guys are great. I think it will improve my game over time.”
Return to NHL
It’s obvious that it’s only a matter of time until Yamamoto shot again with Utah, especially after the AHL produced at the pace of each game. On March 26, his time finally came as he was recalled during his road trip to Florida in Utah.
He left a mark on the scoring table shortly afterwards. In Game 2, Yamamoto managed to score a rebound. This is his first NHL goal since April 2024. You can tell every Utah player on the bench is ecstatic and happy with him. His back is also very large.
“It’s great to be able to stuff that person in and see how happy everyone is to me,” Yamamoto said.
Yamamoto scored his first goal with Utah:
“The guys are great in the locker room. It’s great to be able to stuff that guy in and see how happy everyone is to me.”
It also added that what he worked in Tucson was his confidence in making the game.#utahhcpic.twitter.com/srdixmzfge
– Chase Beardsley (@chasebeardsley_) March 30, 2025
In the last few weeks, Yamamoto’s time was a crazy interest for him. He was immediately dispatched to Tucson after Utah defeated the Winnipeg Jets in early April to help passers-by defeat the Condor in Game 2 of the series. Yamamoto won two assists with a 5-2 victory in a big game that eventually helped the team get a playoff spot.
He won’t have much time to enjoy the pleasant weather in the sunny Tucson. After the victory, Utah recalls once again that Yamamoto played against Kraken in time. In his old team’s game, he benefited from Jamie Oleksiak’s tall stick, which caused his lips to bleed. After a while remaining in the power game, Yamamoto was able to grab it home, his mouth still bleeding.
Last summer, it felt like Aquaman threw away Yamamoto. This is even more hurtful for him considering he is a restricted free agent (RFA), and the team hasn’t even tried to re-sign him, which is his hometown team. For them, for them, for them, for them a special goal.
“I owe them one,” Yamamoto said. “They don’t want me, so I came in and had some revenge, but it was a good guy for us.”
Yamo was hit into the mouth, come back, score 🔥
3-0, club. pic.twitter.com/u4t0s8jj4b
– Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) April 9, 2025
Yamamoto ended the season with Utah. Although he didn’t score, he had many good opportunities and was right for the team. Despite playing only 315 NHL games in his career, head coach André Tourigny regarded Yamamoto as an NHL veteran during his tenure at Utah.
“He is a very good player,” Tulini said. “His hockey IQ, his dedication and game and his experience, you can see that the NHL is not new to him. It’s not like he’s a guy trying to break into the NHL; he’s already here. He’s already here. His defense and pressure are really good under pressure.”
After Utah’s season against the St. Louis Blues, Yamamoto was sent back to the AHL to help the Louisians in their final regular season series against the Colorado Hawks. To get the playoffs, the team must win at least one of the games against the top Pacific Division teams.
Although the team was unable to win in Game 1, they won the Roadrunners’ third straight playoffs with a 7-4 victory in Game 2. Yamamoto scored 2 points in the series, hitting 20 goals with the team and ended his AHL season with 56 points. Although he only had 54 out of 72 games, he led the entire team to the lead.
Roadrunner head coach Steve Potvin has coached many players who ended their season in the AHL in the last few NHL games. The player’s mentality may be screwed up by transitioning to AHL games. However, Naofumi was pleased with Yamamoto’s performance in the last few races for the runners.
“It’s hard for players to get in and end the season there,” Potvin said. “I know what the mentality will look like.
Yamamoto looks as good as the regular season in the AHL playoffs. He provides a true physical condition to stand up for the young players on the team. He sacrificed his body in Game 2 to score for the Roadrunners’ third goal. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to resist Abbotsford Canucks who won the series in Game 3 of the decision.
This is Yamamoto’s goal.
pic.twitter.com/7dayp1oufb– Chase Beardsley (@chasebeardsley_) April 25, 2025
What is Yamamoto’s future?
Yamamoto’s season officially ended due to a loss in Game 3, and his muddy future is imminent. But, it’s clear that he’s better than his previous offseason. Yamamoto is excited to be in the Utah organization. Even in the AHL, he managed to improve his game and build friendships that would likely last forever. He felt like he was loved and wanted, a feeling that didn’t exist between him and the Kraken organization a year ago.
“When you step on the ice it feels like you have 20 people with their own support,” Yamamoto said. “There is a great thing on the ice. Even on the ice, we are always hanging out. It’s definitely a family. I’ll die for one of them.”
Yamamoto is busy offseason. In August, he will marry his long-time girlfriend Bailey, which he is looking forward to. Since his current contract with Utah has expired, he must also secure another career contract. Although there hasn’t been a conversation between him and Utah, he’s eager to go back to the organization.
“I like it here,” Yamamoto said. “Obviously, I want to get up in Utah, but I love Tucson. It’s amazing here. The weather here, guys, the coach stuff, it’s amazing. I definitely hope to come back.”
Bringing Yamamoto back will also be good for Utah. With the prospect of youth, young prospects like Daniil, but potentially enter passers-by next season, allowing a veteran who can thrive in the AHL and offer an NHL experience like Yamamoto to pay dividends in the development of those players. Also, if Utah gets injured, they will have a player who is easily summoned and slides into the roster.
Regardless of Utah’s decision to retain him, Yamamoto’s season has brought him back on the NHL organization’s radar. His hard work and adaptability in the NHL, his mentorship and willingness to play at his best in the AHL this season, proves that he still belongs to professional hockey and even plays a full-time role in the NHL.
Yamamoto spent a huge summer in front of him. His days in Utah organized may be numbered. But he should be proud of his achievements in Utah and Tucson. This season rejuvenated his career, a year that was almost derailed.
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