Haha I definitely am, but I feel like I have to. Someone has to balance out the comments from Flyers fans that he is "borderline useless". I definitely feel like his bouncing around teams and clearing waivers and lack of trade value was more based on his contract than his ability. I don't think he's as good as Dubinsky or Wennberg, but I think he can definitely be a solid option on the powerplay, and should present a better offensive option than Karlsson and Campbell. He has played on a lot of bad teams, but he has also out-produced some decent players. If he brings his A game, he can provide this team with a good top-9 option the position which we are weakest.
Confirmed with Link: CBJ sign Sam Gagner: 1 year, $650,000
- Thread starter Fro
- Start date
Haha I definitely am, but I feel like I have to. Someone has to balance out the comments from Flyers fans that he is "borderline useless". I definitely feel like his bouncing around teams and clearing waivers and lack of trade value was more based on his contract than his ability. I don't think he's as good as Dubinsky or Wennberg, but I think he can definitely be a solid option on the powerplay, and should present a better offensive option than Karlsson and Campbell. He has played on a lot of bad teams, but he has also out-produced some decent players. If he brings his A game, he can provide this team with a good top-9 option the position which we are weakest.
LetsGOJackets!!
Registered User
He was a free agent last summer and again this summer, and went for bargain basement deals.
His ability is questionable - the last couple years he's had marginally better scoring rates than William Karlsson - so imagine that combined with poor play away from the puck.
On the powerplay, we have 7 forwards who scored at a better per minute rate than he did over the last two years. And you can expect Bjorkstrand to be an immediate contributor there. You can use Gagner's PP numbers from his peak in Edmonton (3.75 P/60) and he's on the margin in Columbus as the 5th or 6th best PP option.
LoveCBJ
Registered User
Prediction: Jarmo will be criticized for only signing him for a year while Gagner's putting up a solid season. Then we'll overpay him and he'll never replicate those numbers again. 
Boomshakalaka
Why do I do this?
I don t believe he was a free agent last summer but whatever. I like this signing for our situation and I think it is good for having him 1 year as pld gets more experience at C. Stop gap that we need for depth at center. How can you not like this signing?
From what I can tell from his contract history, he signed a 3 year, 4.8M deal that just expired last season. This is the first bargain basement contract he has signed.
"The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired 5-11, 202 lb C Sam Gagner and a conditional 2016 or 2017 draft pick from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for D Nicklas Grossmann and the contract of D Chris Pronger, according to general manager Ron Hextall."
He had a 3 year entry level contract, 2 year bridge, then 1 year bridge, then 3 year big contract coming off that 38 points in 48 games.
http://www.generalfanager.com/players/152
And I do think that only this past season he had scoring rates marginally above Karlsson. He has almost always scored around 15-25-40 and averaged 16-17 minutes a game. I don't expect him to be a star player, but I do think he will certainly challenge Karlsson for that 3rd line spot, while providing a different skillset (and handedness) than any of our other centers. And given the makeup of our team - the depth and lack of superstar players - I fully expect him to play on all of lines 2-4 this season.
he doesn't make roster even.
LetsGOJackets!!
Registered User
Really? year 1 of his big 14.5MM contract was a good year - I suppose if you graphed his production the trend line is down, but the guy is 27 he can get it done if he gets motivated. We deserve to see his comeback year in Union blue
What a bunch of nonsense. His production has been pretty consistent all through his career until a deep drop off last season.
We will see some secondary scoring out of him. Yes, he's been exposed to suck and it's our coaches responsibility to integrate him and help him play the game the right way. He clearly can help the PP. We have some work to do with him, but I don't think he's unsalvageable. If he's open to salvaging his career, we can help him become a much better overall player.
Cyclones Rock
Registered User
- Jun 12, 2008
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Great depth signing. If he doesn't fit then he can be buried in the AHL with no cap hit.
Good upside. No downside.
Good upside. No downside.
Fro
Cheatin on CBJ w TBL
he's been pretty much a 40 pt player his entire career, not sure what's dropped off. He played well once paired with Coutourier last year
Is it likely we'd get a 1st, probably not...is it possible with some of the dumb deadline deals made the last few years? I think so...a 2nd is definitely not out of the question for depth scoring
Old Guy
Just waitin' on my medication.
- Aug 30, 2015
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To quote William Munny (Clint Eastwood) speaking to Sheriff Little Bill (Gene Hackman) in the climatic scene of the movie Unforgiven;
".......deserve's got nutthin to do with it".
If you look at his per minute scoring rates the decline started in Edmonton.
And no, his powerplay scoring rates in recent years wouldn't see him helping our powerplay - they'd put him about 7th or 8th among our powerplay forwards. We're banking on him bouncing back to something he hasn't been in three or four years.
My bad about his contract last year, but one thing to remember is that he had salary retained on it so it was closer to $3m, IIRC. Arizona and Philly were not paying him $4.8m per.
And no, his powerplay scoring rates in recent years wouldn't see him helping our powerplay - they'd put him about 7th or 8th among our powerplay forwards. We're banking on him bouncing back to something he hasn't been in three or four years.
My bad about his contract last year, but one thing to remember is that he had salary retained on it so it was closer to $3m, IIRC. Arizona and Philly were not paying him $4.8m per.
hardkorejackets
Registered User
I like the signing of Gagner. Low risk situation with a potential for a moderate return. I don't predict him being anything close to a 40 point player given he probably won't be seeing #1 or #2 Center time. But, I think he could be a 3rd liner for this team..
And for the complaint about giving a roster spot to a veteran- I prefer the best players play to be honest. If Dubois isn't ready send him to the Q. If Gagner ends up taking Josh Anderson's presumed spot, he can go back to the AHL for a bit.
And for the complaint about giving a roster spot to a veteran- I prefer the best players play to be honest. If Dubois isn't ready send him to the Q. If Gagner ends up taking Josh Anderson's presumed spot, he can go back to the AHL for a bit.
Happens a lot when players get more minutes. Production plateaus or even goes down. No real shocker there. His best "scoring rate" was actually in 12/13 - long after his rookie season. Your salary crap is nonsense, salary retention doesn't reflect on the player in a cap world.
Just so old listening to this crap. Yes, he can help on the PP. Yes, he provide some secondary scoring. No we're not expecting him have a breakout season or anything. Expectations are modest.
Personally I'd like him learn to play a solid two-way games as the season goes on. He has some talent, so he'll chip in.
LetsGOJackets!!
Registered User
It's a fan board...poetic waxing is expected. Thanks for calling out my taking liberties
???? Retained salary is retained cap. How about you look things up before attacking other posters.
Fro
Cheatin on CBJ w TBL
i think what Blah is saying is that there are decent players that have been bought out, its not to say the player is terrible b/c they've been bought out, its that the cap dictates moves to teams that can't control their spending
Teams send players to cap strapped teams in some cases because the team receiving the player can't absorb the whole cap hit. Logic hard? Good grief, it's like you couldn't see the other side of the argument if it came up and smacked you upside the head. More likely you just don't want to see it.
Let's say we move Hartnell to a team that can make the playoffs and we retain some salary because they need some cap flexibility. Does that mean we or they other team doesn't value Hartnell or that he has no value? Both team would value the respect the player.
In this case both team would receive some cap flexibility, we would get immediate cap assistance and they would trade some form of assets for the player and for being able to retain some additional cap space.
Look things up? I never implied or stated that the team retaining some salary wouldn't receive a cap hit.
I'm officially done with you, no value can be had in further discourse. Peace.
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Double-Shift Lasse
Just post better
Inquiring Minds
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Wait. It's a two-way deal? I thought that I read it was one-way.
