Sam Gagner Appreciation

[bucks_oil]

Outdated and ridiculous. Paid parental leave for a newborn isn't a new idea...or is it just because it's a father doing it? If so, equally outdated and sexist.

Edit. Yes, and thanks to Sammy. I'm sure he's going to play for us in some capacity though.

no kidding... and dude wasn't even talking about PAID leave. He quit.

Anyway... Gags is going to be an Oiler this year and I do agree with others that a conditioning stint while we see (at NHL pace) which of the new guys can cut it, won't be a bad thing for the AHL team. Gags is a solid leader (from everything we've heard) completely independent from a pretty average to above average career (he's been 40 point pace every year of his career... that's solid).

Always have time for Gags when he's playing healthy and committed (which is most of the time).

 

[Raab]

I think Gagner will be back in Edmonton eventually. Whether as a player or in management Im not sure.

 

[rboomercat90]

He always worked hard and gave it his all. That can't be said of everyone he has played with over the years.

Yes, there’s no denying this and it was never more evident than his second year in the league when he was struggling so much. He was still out working everybody else on that team every night. Too bad that effort didn’t wear off on many of those other guys back then.

 

[AM]

Dont give up Sam.

Youve got more to give.

 

[thadd]

After listening to the most recent Holland interview, I think we'll see him back up this year.

 

[I am the Liquor]

After listening to the most recent Holland interview, I think we'll see him back up this year.

Why? What did he say?

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Why? What did he say?

Basically that injuries and players not playing well happens so we'll need 15-16 forwards and 8-9 D over the course of the year so he told Sam to go down and work hard.

 

[LaGu]

Back to Gagner... I expect he'll report and make it back in short order. He's a Oiler at heart and the best outcome for him is playing his way back on the team and close to his family. He's on the road a lot anyway, so he can just view it as an extended road trip. He'll certainly expect to be near a point per game in the AHL, and he can play any position, making him a logical call up.

I think Holland said that Gagner is going to Bakersfield in yesterday's media scrum. Was only listening with half an ear though so I am not sure.

edit: I see it was already mentioned by BBO above, so he is going down.

 

[ConnorMcNugesaitl]

I wonder if he'll play center down there as the Condors seem stronger on the wing.

Good opportunity for him to be a good mentor I guess and with the lighter schedule maybe they'll let him go home to Edmonton a bit more often.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Still going to need more time to digest this. Thought I was over it, I'm not.

Chiasson said it best, and credit to him, that few people know how hard it is to be ripped off the team in the last days of camp. To be the last cuts. If we're being clear its the cruelest thing you can do to any veteran player as doing so almost certainly limits other options with NHL players.

I'm making every effort to try to be onboard with new coaching and management but a couple things stick out a bit sorely (and because I'm really tired of the old guard here that looked down on players and had scorn, if not contempt for them.

Indeed Holland telling the media that "you don't get what you want" in regards to Burdasov and contract wasn't such a great thing to me. It washes well with media and fans and the media scrum got a good laugh but for sure it lacked any tack or regard. If you're an agent or player its probably not laundry you want voiced directly to the media.

Some comments from Tippet don't play really well with me either. The comments directly about Gagner "Yeah I know all about the player" and "He's not fast enough to play here" seem uncalled for.

I say this from the perspective of an org that buried Rieder just last year and that sometimes has trouble attracting good players here probably because of fear they will be harshly buried at first opportunity.

Lets be clear here too. The org has now burned Gagner and Rieder twice. Once wasn't enough..

But this fall Burdasov and Gagner were not treated right in any of this. Burd played well enough, and anybody saw that, to at least get another game, another opportunity. If the org was just going to yank his chain in the end then don't even have him here, allow him to go to another team. To me its thinking that the org made up their mind on Burdasov before he touched a puck. That he wasn't getting a spot. Why do that?

Gagner similarly was better than half a dozen forwards on this team that will start today. But he's used to being Charlie Brown so its OK to punt him back to the AHL. We have to make sure to treat valued players like Colby Cave really good.

I don' get it.

 

[HuMz]

Still going to need more time to digest this. Thought I was over it, I'm not.

Chiasson said it best, and credit to him, that few people know how hard it is to be ripped off the team in the last days of camp. To be the last cuts. If we're being clear its the cruelest thing you can do to any veteran player as doing so almost certainly limits other options with NHL players.

I'm making every effort to try to be onboard with new coaching and management but a couple things stick out a bit sorely (and because I'm really tired of the old guard here that looked down on players and had scorn, if not contempt for them.

Indeed Holland telling the media that "you don't get what you want" in regards to Burdasov and contract wasn't such a great thing to me. It washes well with media and fans and the media scrum got a good laugh but for sure it lacked any tack or regard. If you're an agent or player its probably not laundry you want voiced directly to the media.

Some comments from Tippet don't play really well with me either. The comments directly about Gagner "Yeah I know all about the player" and "He's not fast enough to play here" seem uncalled for.

I say this from the perspective of an org that buried Rieder just last year and that sometimes has trouble attracting good players here probably because of fear they will be harshly buried at first opportunity.

Lets be clear here too. The org has now burned Gagner and Rieder twice. Once wasn't enough..

But this fall Burdasov and Gagner were not treated right in any of this. Burd played well enough, and anybody saw that, to at least get another game, another opportunity. If the org was just going to yank his chain in the end then don't even have him here, allow him to go to another team. To me its thinking that the org made up their mind on Burdasov before he touched a puck. That he wasn't getting a spot. Why do that?

Gagner similarly was better than half a dozen forwards on this team that will start today. But he's used to being Charlie Brown so its OK to punt him back to the AHL. We have to make sure to treat valued players like Colby Cave really good.

I don' get it.

I'm with you, just more examples on the endless list of mismanagement. it's mind boggling to think we've got some of the worst secondary scoring in the league, and yet we just sent down a veteran who is capable of putting up 40 pts, and had a good preseason.

This is the same organization that fed one of the slowest players in the league (Lucic), top 6 minutes, power play time, and a million excuses.

Now all of a sudden under Tippet, you must be fast to make the team? So why is Khaira still here? Certainly there is room for a few guys who aren't the fastest, as long as they can provide support on other areas, and be utilized in the right role.

 

[joestevens29]

I'm with you, just more examples on the endless list of mismanagement. it's mind boggling to think we've got some of the worst secondary scoring in the league, and yet we just sent down a veteran who is capable of putting up 40 pts, and had a good preseason.

This is the same organization that fed one of the slowest players in the league (Lucic), top 6 minutes, power play time, and a million excuses.

Now all of a sudden under Tippet, you must be fast to make the team? So why is Khaira still here? Certainly there is room for a few guys who aren't the fastest, as long as they can provide support on other areas, and be utilized in the right role.

They are limiting how many slow guys they have. And don't worry Khaira won't be here long if he doesn't show up. They just weren't going to risk him on waivers for no reason.

 

[Mr Positive]

I was surprised that he was cut, just because I figured he would a vet that we hang one of the bottom lines on, and perhaps get PP time like how he found some success in Vancouver.

But, now that he was cut, it kind of makes sense. We knew the team had too many players to create competition, and speed is just that important for our team.

I also don't mind the higher ups saying that his speed was the issue. It's better to be clear on that than have people wonder if there was some other issue.

 

[ConnorMcNugesaitl]

Are people seriously crying over Sam freaking Gagner being cut?

Not good enough for the top 6, can't play center or the pk and generally not a great fit for the bottom 6.

This isn't something worth crying over.

If it weren't for the nostalgia boner this move wouldn't garner a second thought.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Are people seriously crying over Sam freaking Gagner being cut?

Not good enough for the top 6, can't play center or the pk and generally not a great fit for the bottom 6.

This isn't something worth crying over.

If it weren't for the nostalgia ***** this move wouldn't garner a second thought.

Its this kind of thinking that supported Chia's scorched Earth policy of ridding this club of any supporting talent.

We had 3 forwards last season with as many as 40pts. Properly used Sam Gagner is gimme for that. We have 10 forwards we rotate in and out year per year and who are talentless and fairly devoid of initiating, or contributing to production. We had by my count half a dozen forwards on the ice who couldn't take a pass. All playing in an NHL lineup.

Our offense was immediately improved with the addition of somebody as easy to acquire as Sam Gagner. But hey, lets think we've moved on from that.

It isn't skating we need. Rieder had that covered..

 

[Pointteen]

I was surprised that he was cut, just because I figured he would a vet that we hang one of the bottom lines on, and perhaps get PP time like how he found some success in Vancouver.

But, now that he was cut, it kind of makes sense. We knew the team had too many players to create competition, and speed is just that important for our team.

I also don't mind the higher ups saying that his speed was the issue. It's better to be clear on that than have people wonder if there was some other issue.

Same to the last point. Being clear to veterans is big.

We're assuming a lot based on comments to the media. Without a clue about the private conversation itself.

Samwise is a fan favourite. Holland doesn't care. I like that.

But the points. Offense. This sits very poorly after a season watching the team fail to score and then trade away one of thr few players who could for Brandon f***ing Manning.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Some comments from Tippet don't play really well with me either. The comments directly about Gagner "Yeah I know all about the player" and "He's not fast enough to play here" seem uncalled for.

I was a pretty big fan of Gags too, but what Tippett said made sense to me.

He wanted the bottom 6 to be fast because they would be relied on to be Penalty Killers, and Gagner is not a Penalty Killer.
And the type of player Gagner is, he needed to be playing in the top 6, and it sounds like he lost out to Jurco.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I was a pretty big fan of Gags too, but what Tippett said made sense to me.

He wanted the bottom 6 to be fast because they would be relied on to be Penalty Killers, and Gagner is not a Penalty Killer.
And the type of player Gagner is, he needed to be playing in the top 6, and it sounds like he lost out to Jurco.

That's all good and I agree Gagner lost out to Jurco. Even assuming Neal rebounds we only have 3-4 players in the org that have as much offensive acumen as Gagner and few that look as good on the 2nd unit PP. We don't have 6 better options than Gagner for topsix here, not even close.

My whole point is we're starving marvins for offense and we seem content throwing away players that have averaged 40pts in their career. I mean I could see this if we were Tampa..

Production seems to be understated in the plans here. Tippets plan is to construct a water tight scheme where GA is the key. Who here thinks that is happening with our team commitment, our goaltending, and our D?

 

[I am the Liquor]

Are people seriously crying over Sam freaking Gagner being cut?

Not good enough for the top 6, can't play center or the pk and generally not a great fit for the bottom 6.

This isn't something worth crying over.

If it weren't for the nostalgia ***** this move wouldn't garner a second thought.

Click bait. Somebody is bored.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Click bait. Somebody is bored.

nevermind

I'm all nice and everything..

 

[ThePhoenixx]

Still going to need more time to digest this. Thought I was over it, I'm not.

Chiasson said it best, and credit to him, that few people know how hard it is to be ripped off the team in the last days of camp. To be the last cuts. If we're being clear its the cruelest thing you can do to any veteran player as doing so almost certainly limits other options with NHL players.

I'm making every effort to try to be onboard with new coaching and management but a couple things stick out a bit sorely (and because I'm really tired of the old guard here that looked down on players and had scorn, if not contempt for them.

Indeed Holland telling the media that "you don't get what you want" in regards to Burdasov and contract wasn't such a great thing to me. It washes well with media and fans and the media scrum got a good laugh but for sure it lacked any tack or regard. If you're an agent or player its probably not laundry you want voiced directly to the media.

Some comments from Tippet don't play really well with me either. The comments directly about Gagner "Yeah I know all about the player" and "He's not fast enough to play here" seem uncalled for.

I say this from the perspective of an org that buried Rieder just last year and that sometimes has trouble attracting good players here probably because of fear they will be harshly buried at first opportunity.

Lets be clear here too. The org has now burned Gagner and Rieder twice. Once wasn't enough..

But this fall Burdasov and Gagner were not treated right in any of this. Burd played well enough, and anybody saw that, to at least get another game, another opportunity. If the org was just going to yank his chain in the end then don't even have him here, allow him to go to another team. To me its thinking that the org made up their mind on Burdasov before he touched a puck. That he wasn't getting a spot. Why do that?

Gagner similarly was better than half a dozen forwards on this team that will start today. But he's used to being Charlie Brown so its OK to punt him back to the AHL. We have to make sure to treat valued players like Colby Cave really good.

I don' get it.

How many times/months/years do you think coaches/trainers/Gms'/teammates, etc. etc. told Sam Gagner to work on his skating all summer. That he was too small and slow and weak on his skates?

How many summers do you think he came to camp as slow/weak on his skates as he was the year before?

Look at your namesake. Slow. People laughed. One summer he worked like a demon. Now quick, almost fast. This is a big man.

That is why Sammy had some shade thrown at him. He doesn't listen. That's why he is a hugely paid AHL player now and in Van. Why he was a PP specialist before that.

That's why he was made a semi-example, and he is being paid very very well to be that this year.

 

[tiger_80]

Still going to need more time to digest this. Thought I was over it, I'm not.

Chiasson said it best, and credit to him, that few people know how hard it is to be ripped off the team in the last days of camp. To be the last cuts. If we're being clear its the cruelest thing you can do to any veteran player as doing so almost certainly limits other options with NHL players.

I'm making every effort to try to be onboard with new coaching and management but a couple things stick out a bit sorely (and because I'm really tired of the old guard here that looked down on players and had scorn, if not contempt for them.

Indeed Holland telling the media that "you don't get what you want" in regards to Burdasov and contract wasn't such a great thing to me. It washes well with media and fans and the media scrum got a good laugh but for sure it lacked any tack or regard. If you're an agent or player its probably not laundry you want voiced directly to the media.

Some comments from Tippet don't play really well with me either. The comments directly about Gagner "Yeah I know all about the player" and "He's not fast enough to play here" seem uncalled for.

I say this from the perspective of an org that buried Rieder just last year and that sometimes has trouble attracting good players here probably because of fear they will be harshly buried at first opportunity.

Lets be clear here too. The org has now burned Gagner and Rieder twice. Once wasn't enough..

But this fall Burdasov and Gagner were not treated right in any of this. Burd played well enough, and anybody saw that, to at least get another game, another opportunity. If the org was just going to yank his chain in the end then don't even have him here, allow him to go to another team. To me its thinking that the org made up their mind on Burdasov before he touched a puck. That he wasn't getting a spot. Why do that?

Gagner similarly was better than half a dozen forwards on this team that will start today. But he's used to being Charlie Brown so its OK to punt him back to the AHL. We have to make sure to treat valued players like Colby Cave really good.

I don' get it.

You are overthinking it. Professinal sports is a business and everyone, including players and their agents know it. There are only so many NHL jobs to go around. Gagner, Burdasov and Rieder are just not good enough players.

 

[tiger_80]

How many times/months/years do you think coaches/trainers/Gms'/teammates, etc. etc. told Sam Gagner to work on his skating all summer. That he was too small and slow and weak on his skates?

How many summers do you think he came to camp as slow/weak on his skates as he was the year before?

Look at your namesake. Slow. People laughed. One summer he worked like a demon. Now quick, almost fast. This is a big man.

That is why Sammy had some shade thrown at him. He doesn't listen. That's why he is a hugely paid AHL player now and in Van. Why he was a PP specialist before that.

That's why he was made a semi-example, and he is being paid very very well to be that this year.

Nah, Gagner, by all acounts, worked hard. One may just have to accept the fact that everyone has his physical ceiling.

 

[ThePhoenixx]

You are over

Nah, Gagner, by all acounts, worked hard. One may just have to accept the fact that everyone has his physical ceiling.

He didn't improve his skating. Ever. Everyone can do that. I cannot remember a time when he spent training with someone like a Pelletier.

I guess I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time.

 

[Drivesaitl]

How many times/months/years do you think coaches/trainers/Gms'/teammates, etc. etc. told Sam Gagner to work on his skating all summer. That he was too small and slow and weak on his skates?

How many summers do you think he came to camp as slow/weak on his skates as he was the year before?

Look at your namesake. Slow. People laughed. One summer he worked like a demon. Now quick, almost fast. This is a big man.

That is why Sammy had some shade thrown at him. He doesn't listen. That's why he is a hugely paid AHL player now and in Van. Why he was a PP specialist before that.

That's why he was made a semi-example, and he is being paid very very well to be that this year.

yeah I don't agree here. Its one thing to improve your skating to a great degree as a teen. Its another to do it a decade later. Gagner has never been one to waffle on off season training either, he stays in shape and even saw the necessity to become bigger, to play in this league, and he's 200lbs. Some might say he should be smaller, but try telling somebody that had their face rearranged through a non hockey play that they should be smaller out there in the NHL shark tank. Gagner realized getting stronger was part of self protection. Its hard to get both bigger and faster.

I love Draisaitl all day but Leon had one primary thing to do, get faster. He already had the stature, size, strength. Drai being slow was also being overstated and with big players its very much an optical illusion. PLENTY of the same people laughing at Drai, saying he's slow and lazy were stating that still LAST SEASON. If we're being clear. To me Drai improved first stride acceleration. That made a difference. Gags worked on the first stride acceleration years ago, and had it even in his rookie season.

But painting Gagner as the player with a bad attitude that doesn't respond to suggestions? I don't know that is accurate. If you give some stated citations I'll consider the point. In the absence of that I don't know its true that he "doesn't listen".