He wasn't a bottom six center during most of his time here. It will be interesting to see if Gagner cuts into a prospects ice time. In all honestly I think that is what some of the angst is about. I mean, so much drama over a guy that is basically earning close to league minimum. Kind of silly.
Confirmed with Link: CBJ sign Sam Gagner: 1 year, $650,000
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He wasn't a bottom six center during most of his time here. It will be interesting to see if Gagner cuts into a prospects ice time. In all honestly I think that is what some of the angst is about. I mean, so much drama over a guy that is basically earning close to league minimum. Kind of silly.
He hit 60 (65, in fact) his first full year here. His play regressed from that point and he was our third line center before he was traded. That is fact.
I think you're seriously overestimating the player Vermette is now.
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Maybe if there are injuries, but it's not likely he's going to beat out Wennberg or Dubi.
My hope however is that we have 3 capable lines who are top 6 worthy that we can rotate depending on matchups.
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Stick to what ever goal posts you want. The year in Arizona, was all things considered pretty exceptional. A guy up and down the lineup, on a new team, finds a way to lead forwards in production. Doesn't happen often.
Last year was a mess. Year before that was Eakins. I can't describe what an imbecile he was or how disjointed the team was under him.
Year before that was the lockout year where Gagner knocked it out of the ballpark with 38pts in 48GP
So in last 4 seasons two of them good. The two that weren't were Eakins, and a Flyers team that seemingly didn't even want to make use of Gagner. I wouldn't write him off just yet.
As far as I can tell there is zero angst over the Gagner signing. The range of opinion on the signing spans from "meh" to "good". The discussion has almost entirely been about how to gauge Gagners' past performance.
The most redeeming part of the Gagner deal is the price tag. There shouldn't be any obligation to play him if he is stinking it up. That's why I find replacements' story to be less than encouraging. The last thing we want to do is get stuck in a Desharnais type of situation where we have to give Gagner the best linemates and opportunities because he can't contribute in the bottom six role he was putatively signed for.
The most redeeming part of the Gagner deal is the price tag. There shouldn't be any obligation to play him if he is stinking it up. That's why I find replacements' story to be less than encouraging. The last thing we want to do is get stuck in a Desharnais type of situation where we have to give Gagner the best linemates and opportunities because he can't contribute in the bottom six role he was putatively signed for.
Old Guy
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A close second is the term of contract.
Think about fast forwarding to June 1st next year. You have the ability to re-up Gagner if he has played well and fits into the CBJ (and you will have a roster spot, as Campbell is coming off the books). You will know much, much more about DuBois and his ability to play center in the NHL. You will know (or should) if Jenner is going to slot into a center or wing long-term. Based upon those matters, you might have the option to flip Karlsson for picks. The more I think about this signing, the better I like it.
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Double-Shift Lasse
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I think your memory is faulty here, lee. Vermette was primarily a top six center (in 09-10 I'm pretty sure he centered Nash and Juice) who saw time on both the PP and PK.
To answer your question, I tend to agree with David that Gagner is a better signing for this club right now.
Vermette has an infinitely better track record of successful play in the utility player role. He obviously would have been the better player for a bottom six C job. Does that justify a slightly higher salary and term than Gagner will get? I think so, but then again I thought Campbell's one fewer year didn't come remotely close to justifying downgrading from DMac. What can you do, you know how much Jarmo loves flexibility in the back group.
The Maya believed in a past which always returned ... Our challenge is to ... Interpret.
niflheim
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to flip Gagner for 3 or 4 round pick
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Just for fun (and I was curious), you are right he played with Nash and Juice.
The Gagner signing is still a better bang-for-buck deal than Vermette's would have been. Vermette's advanced stats weren't too pretty last season, and he is surely on a decline. Gagner's deal offers flexibility (both cap-wise and roster-wise), and is a full year shorter than Vermette's. Even if Gagner has an "average" season, that still means 40ish points, which is still better than what Vermette has been producing the past several seasons. I also believe Gagner, at the moment, that is more capable at playing up and down in the lineup rather than in one specific role like Vermette is plugged in as.
LetsGOJackets!!
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Love Vermette (the 2010 version anyway), Gagner is younger, quicker and cheaper - don't know which is the better teammate, but Gagner likely swears in English which helps the communication
Double-Shift Lasse
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He was when he first came here, but not in his final year. To be clear, I loved Vermette. But mission accomplished, we have conversation.
40 pts is Gagner's "average" season when he's centering a scoring line in an offensive role (easier zone starts and better linemates), with plenty of minutes. That's not Gagner's "average" season when he's "playing up and down the lineup" as you put it. When it comes to playing up and down the lineup Gagner has never done it successfully, Vermette has. It's also really weird that you're characterizing Vermette as the "one specific role" kind of player and not Gagner. Historically that has been 100% the opposite. Maybe everything changes this year, but historically it's backwards.
I think you're going to be disappointed. Gagner is relatively slow and weak, compared to both Vermette and NHLers in general.
** Usual disclaimer - since some can't tell, let me make it clear that this isn't opposition to the Gagner signing, I'm just clearing out the nonsense.
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See bolded.
By making your own distortions apparently. Gagner was "up and down the lineup" in Arizona, as well as Edmonton. Almost every season, and still put up 8/9 prorated +40pt seasons. He could do the same in Columbus if he gets a mix of spots.
Let's define "up and down the lineup" first, because it seems we're using it differently. In this context, when a Jackets fan says "up and down the lineup" we mean the role he was putatively signed for: mostly bottom six, with occasional stints on the powerplay and in the top six. That's probably about 13-14 minutes a game, and probably 700-900 minutes total, depending on injuries.
The only season on record where Gagner played that kind of role was last year, when he had 16 pts.
In Arizona he played 1145 minutes, which would have led the Jackets forwards, and also had 40%+ offensive zone starts, which was easier than the load of any Jacket forward by a country mile.
We Want Ten
Johnny Gaudreau
Svitov was great until he got a concusion. He never played the same after his injury. He is one of my all time favorite players (for no real good reason).
Fun Fact: I bought a pair of his game worn skates and he is apperently pigeon toed on his left foot as putting on his skate is like putting your foot in rusty bear trap. The right foot one is fine.
