Gagner put up those numbers as a raw rookie, all when he was 18yrs old and all in one go off in what is a true rookie season. Yamamoto has his through 3 development seasons and is 21yrs old. Yama also getting to play with McDrai who are far superior to anybody Gagner was playing with. Gagner was gathering most of his points from guys like Nillson and Cogliano who were also young, and haven't been known as consistent NHL producers since.
Gagner also produced quite a lot immediately after that first 27 game segment and to wit had 5pts in his next 4 games. Gagner also started his NHL career on fire being hot throughout camp and into the season. Gagner had 4pts in his first 4GP and 7pts in his first 8NHL games played. he served notice he could produce at this level, served it immediately, and all as an 18yr old. Way more impressive.
ps what is "upside" other than a term that is a narrative construct. In 3yrs of pro hockey Yamamoto has yet to put up impressive numbers anywhere. He's yet to demonstrate goal scoring acumen. In reference to being the smallest player in the league isn't it an odd notion to infer that such an outlier has so much upside? Robbie Schremp had so much upside. He was going to be a star. The few here that have followed this board since inception know that all these players are touted to be stars, that they are fait accompli, just waiting to ignite.
Every Oiler fan here is quick to mock Flames or Nucks prospects and say all the fervor is presumptuous and yet do the same here.
Benson and Yama are stated to be sure things on this board. They're so good they should immediately be playing with Leon Draisaitl, one of the top two producers in hockey, and the top goal scorer in all of 2019. They're a shoe in with that guy. They're all light years better than Gagner, excepting that they haven't been at any point, and are showing less signs of that now. I mean I hate to bring this up but Gagner was putting up the numbers Benson and Yama have put up in the AHL, but in the much harder NHL, and again as an 18yr old in a rookie season.
I have never seen a poster so upset that fans hope a couple of prospects succeed. Imagine only cheering for a team because you only care about the name on the back of one of the jerseys. You should really just admit you’re not an Oilers fan at all. You’re a Drai fanboy and nothing more.