<p><p>Spokane native Kailer Yamamoto will be the first Washington-born player to take the ice with the Seattle Kraken Tuesday, after the winger signed a one-year deal last summer.</p></p><p><p>Yamamoto, 25, was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Detroit Red Wings and was cut. He spent six season in Edmonton and totaled 118 points (50 goals, 68 assists).</p></p><p><p>• Another Spokane native, Tyler Johnson, is in his third year with the Chicago Blackhawks.</p></p><p><p>Johnson, 33, has missed significant time the past two seasons with injuries. He has 39 points (15 goals, 24 assists) with the Blackhawks.</p></p><p><p>• Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon will miss the start of the season with an upper body injury as is considered week-to-week.</p></p><p><p>Spurgeon, 33, enters his 14th season in Minnesota.</p></p><p><p>• Spokane’s Derek Ryan, 36, is in his third season with Edmonton. Ryan had 20 points (13 goals, seven assists) last year.</p></p><p><p>• Ty Smith was placed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins, and after clearing, was sent to the team’s AHL affiliate.</p></p><p><p>Smith was recalled though, and will start the year on the team’s roster.</p></p>
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